With the American Airlines Center, which is the host of UFC 103, already booked, the preceding official fighter weigh-ins instead take place at the Dallas Convention Center Arena. The weigh-ins, set for Friday, Sept. 18, begin at 4 p.m. CT local time (5 p.m. ET) and are free and open to the public. Doors open at 3 p.m. CT.
As usual you can watch a live stream of the festivities here on MMAjunkie which will also have live results and images of the event posted throughout the evening. The weigh-ins take place on the east side of the Dallas Convention Center Arena (known as the A-section), which is located at 650 S. Griffin St. Members of the UFC Fight Club, which is the organization’s official fan club, can head to the convention center early for a Q&A session with UFC veteran Tito Ortiz. The session takes place from 2-3 p.m. CT.
Additionally, an official autograph session takes place at the venue from 1 to 3 p.m. CT with UFC fighters Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Diego Sanchez, Jake Rosholt, Jon Fitch and Mike Swick. The signing event is also free and open to the public.
UFC 103, which features a main event of Rich Franklin vs. Vitor Belfort and a co-headliner of Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Junior Dos Santos, begins Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. CT). A two-fight live broadcast of the prelims begins at 9 p.m. ET on Spike TV, and the night’s pay-per-view broadcast kicks off at 10 p.m. ET. Doors to American Airlines Center open at 5:50 p.m. ET.
Meanwhile undefeated Swedish light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and fellow UFC newcomer and EliteXC veteran Jared Hamman (10-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will meet at UFC 105. MMAjunkie learned of the match-up from sources close to both fighters, and an organization for which Gustafsson was supposed to soon fight announced he has instead signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC.
On the other hand UFC 105 takes place Nov. 14 at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England, and airs via tape delay on Spike TV. Although not officially announced by the UFC, the Gustafsson vs. Hamman fight is slated for the night’s un-aired preliminary card. Gustafsson, who made his pro MMA debut just two years ago, adds some European flavor to the overseas card. The 22-year-old fighter has posted stoppages in seven of his eight wins, including a first-round knockout of Vladimir Shemarov in May.
Hamman fights for the first time in 15 months when he makes his octagon debut. The former EliteXC fighter twice headlined the organization’s prospects-heavyweight “ShoXC” series, which included a TKO victory over Poai Suganuma in his most recent bout.
Hamman’s only career loss came to Suganuma four months prior. Hamman complained of an early stoppage after Suganuma connected on a flying knee to set up the knockout stoppage. However, in avenging the loss, Hamman picked up his 10th stoppage in 10 career victories.
