Inertia Unlimited’s Ref Cam To Make UFC Debut

Fox Sports has used unique camera views like Catcher Cam, Diamond Cam, and Gopher Cam to bring viewers closer to the excitement of the sports they love. Saturday night at the Staples Center in in Los Angeles is no different as the network brings UFC fans to a place they’ve never been – inside the Octagon, within inches of the fighters battling in the cage. Ref Cam makes its broadcast and UFC debut Saturday, Aug. 4 (8:00-10:00 PM ET), from the Staples Center bringing fans a new perspective to the two-hour quadruple-header.

Referee Kenny Bayless with Ref Cam on his shirt.

Similar in size to the latest evolution of Diamond Cam, Ref Cam is a small, lightweight, wireless high definition, radio frequency transmission camera showing the point of view of the only other person inside the Octagon with the fighters. During Saturday’s broadcast, the lens will be placed at the top button of the referee’s shirt. The power-source, a long-life lithium ion battery and the transmitter are worn as a light chest vest under the referee’s shirt. Developed by Inertia Unlimited, it was first used earlier this summer during HBO’s broadcast of Amir Kahn vs. Danny Garcia fight.

Adding even more excitement to Saturday’s card on FOX, UFC President Dana White this week announced that whichever co-main event delivered the most impressive victory would jump to the front of the light heavyweight title contenders. Former light heavyweight champion and karate expert Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida battles Ryan “Darth” Bader, a thunderous puncher and former NCAA All-American wrestler. Then, in one of the sport’s great rivalries, former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua throws down with a resurging Brandon “The Truth” Vera.

“Whoever scores the best win and gets the fans excited by going out there on Saturday and looking the most impressive gets the winner of Jones vs. Henderson,” said White. “Winning isn’t enough, they’ve got to win impressively. Any one of these four fighters can take things into their own hands and make a title shot happen.”

Action kicks off Friday, August 3 (7:00 PM ET) with the UFC Weigh-In on FUEL TV hosted by Karyn Bryant. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans joins Bryant, offering analysis. Two-time MMA Journalist-of-the-Year Ariel Helwani conducts fighter interviews.

FUEL TV begins its coverage on Saturday, August 4 with UFC Prelims (5:00 PM ET). FUEL TV’s “UFC Tonight” analyst Kenny Florian believes the fight to watch of the featured six on FUEL TV’s three-hour telecast is the battle between featherweights Manny Gamburyan vs. Michihiro Omigawa, “Both were once thought to be top fighters in the 145 lbs weight class, and this is a make-or-break fight for both of them at this point.” The UFC Prelims on FUEL TV are hosted by Jay Glazer, with analysis from Evans and UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen. Helwani contributes with backstage interviews.

Fox Sports’ Curt Menefee kicks off network coverage at 8:00 PM ET hosting pre- and post-fight coverage alongside UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and UFC middleweight fighter Brian Stann.  Couture is the only UFC fighter to ever win the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight titles and became the oldest man ever to win a UFC title at the age of 43.  Stann, the former U.S. Marine, was originally scheduled to fight Hector Lombard and headline the Aug. 4 event, but a shoulder injury forced him off the card. Once the battles in the Octagon begin, UFC announcers Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg have the call.

“The fact that one of those four will get a light heavyweight title fight against either Jon Jones or Dan Henderson based on how they do Saturday night on Fox is what makes this a big event,” said Menefee. “Instead of relying on just one main event to decide what the future holds along the UFC path, you’ve got two main events – four fighters that are all fighting to be next in line for the championship.”

FUEL TV wraps up the action from UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera at 10:00 PM ET with a live UFC Postfight show. Glazer leads the recap, with Evans and Sonnen offering analysis.

Fox Deportes simulcasts the prelims and main card fights on Saturday, August 4 beginning at 5:00 PM ET.

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