UFC® and HDNet to Present Punch Meter Challenge and Sweepstakes

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --The Ultimate Fighting Championship® and UFC Octagon Nation Tour™, along with independent television network HDNet, announced today that they are offering fans the opportunity to enter the HDNet Punch Meter Challenge and Sweepstakes. One Grand Prize winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip to attend a live broadcast of the network's signature MMA news program, Inside MMA.

Visitors to the Octagon Nation Tour™, a multi-stop, nationwide tour offering the ultimate UFC fan experience and access to top UFC fighters, can enter the HDNet Punch Meter Challenge and Sweepstakes at each Tour stop. If fans score greater than 920 on the "Punch Meter," they will receive a Bas Rutten Bobble Head Doll (while supplies last) and will be automatically entered for a chance to win the Grand Prize to meet Bas Rutten in person at Inside MMA. The Grand Prize includes hotel, transportation and $300 spending money for meals. 

The challenge is now under way at Octagon Nation Tour stops across the country until the contest's conclusion on Feb. 13, 2012.  In addition to the HDNet Punch Meter, visitors to the Octagon Nation Tour™ can meet UFC fighters, visit the memorabilia exhibition featuring 18 years of UFC history and check out the UFC gaming station that features the recently released Xbox Kinect UFC Trainer experience. For more information about the Octagon Nation Tour, visit www.ufc.com/tour.

"At UFC, we always want to bring our fans as close to the action as possible and provide the ultimate experience," UFC President Dana White said. "We are giving fans the chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at one of HDNet's top shows. All they have to do is make sure to stop by the Octagon Nation Tour when it comes to their city."

"It's great to partner up with the UFC on the tour," said Mark Cuban, President and Co-founder of HDNet. "There is no better way to reach UFC fans and there is no better source of news and highlights than Inside MMA on HDNet.  I recommend that everyone check out the UFC Octagon Nation Tour. Not only can you win a chance to visit the Inside MMA set, but you just might run into Dana and I tearing it up!"

Inside MMA gives fans their weekly fix for everything MMA. Hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten pair with top fighters and newsmakers to discuss and analyze event highlights, breaking news, and fighter stories from around the MMA industry.

The contest is open to individuals unable to attend the Octagon Nation Tour locations. Those wishing to be considered for the Grand Prize drawing can print their full name, mailing address, email address and phone number on a 3" x 5" card and send it in a hand-addressed envelope to: HDNet, Attn: Legal Dept., 320 S. Walton Street, Dallas, TX 75226. Mailed entries must be postmarked by February 13, 2012 and received no later than February 16, 2012. Only one entry per person is permitted. For more details on the terms and conditions of the HDNet Punch Meter Challenge and Sweepstakes, please visit www.hd.net/blogs/hdnet-punch-meter-challenge-and-sweepstakes-official-rules/.

About Ultimate Fighting Championship®

Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® is the world's premier MMA organization and produces over 12 UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually around the globe.  UFC content is distributed commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. Beginning in 2012, FOX will broadcast four fights annually. In spring 2012, The Ultimate Fighter®, UFC's signature weekly reality TV show, debuts on FX. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 149 countries and territories, reaching a half a billion homes worldwide, in 20 different languages.

UFC® also boasts a powerful presence online, with UFC.com attracting over seven million unique visitors per month, while also possessing one of the most powerful social media followings in all of professional sports. To date, UFC has over six million fans on Facebook and over 400,000 followers on Twitter.  In addition, UFC President Dana White is one of the most accessible and most followed executives in sports with more than 1.7 million followers on Twitter.  On January 22, 2011, UFC continued to set trends in social media, becoming the first major sports league to stream live, broadcast quality action on Facebook.

Ancillary businesses include best-selling DVDs, a magazine, the best-selling UFC "Undisputed" videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, and articulated action figures.

About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.
 
HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for innovative, original programming, including the network's Emmy Award winning HD news feature programs, "HDNet World Report," and "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather.  Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world.  HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries. 

HDNet is your home for MMA, featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com).  "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including MFC, DREAM, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, Titan Fighting Championships, It's Showtime, Shark Fights and more.  HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "The Voice Vs…," features Michael Schiavello going one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport.

HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series.  The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more.  HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild®," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"  
 
Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters.  The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Kirsten Dunst, Ryan Gosling, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.
 
In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.  HDNet Movies kidScene is a special, daily block of kid-friendly programming, running from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET, dedicated to entertaining and enlightening kids from the ages of 5 to 10 years old. From animation to adventure, HDNet Movies kidScene brings you all the best movies with one thing in mind: KIDS.
  
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Suddenlink and Verizon FiOS and in Canada via Access Communications, Cogeco, Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct. 

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

SOURCE UFC