It might just be time for mixed martial arts fans to mark July 11 completely off their calendars.

Spike TV today announced it will air a five-hour marathon of the upcoming series "UFC's Ultimate 100: Greatest Fights" prior to the July 11 pay-per-view start of UFC 100, which takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The series, which will count down the bouts fans select as the top 100 UFC fights of all-time, debuts July 5 on Spike TV at 9 PM ET/PT.

While the first episode of "UFC's Ultimate 100: Greatest Fights" airs on a Sunday, subsequent episodes of the series will air in the same timeslot on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The final episode, along with a re-air of the previous four episodes, will air simultaneously on Spike's East and West Coast feeds in the five hours leading into UFC 100.

Fan voting for the UFC's greatest 100 fights, chosen among a list of 181 candidates selected by Spike TV and the UFC, began May 1 and is currently ongoing at spike.com/ufc-100.

Containing fights dating back to Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock at UFC 1, the list was recently supplemented by the addition of this past Saturday's The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale main event between Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida.

Voters can comment on each of the 181 fights on Spike TV's website and rank each bout from one octagon for a "standard" contest to 10 octagons for an "epic" clash.

The UFC will return to California for the first time in over two years on October 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The UFC's last trip to California was on September 22, 2007 at UFC 76 at the Honda Center in Anaheim and the last time the UFC was at the Staples Center was on May 27, 2006 for UFC 60, headlined by then UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes taking on UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie at a catchweight of 175 pounds.

The Staples Center is home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Kings.

29.01.2009
Master Helio Gracie (1913-2009)
Jiu-Jitsu loses its icon

It is with great sadness that GRACIEMAG.com announces the passing of Grandmaster Helio Gracie. At 95 years of age, the great icon and one of those most responsible for Jiu-Jitsu's success in Brazil and the world died this morning, at Beneficencia Portuguesa Hospital, in Petropolis, mountain region of Rio de Janeiro.

"I created a flag from the sport's dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood," said the Professor, as his last worlds.

The Master will be buried this Thursday afternoon, at 5 pm, at the Chapel of the Petropolis municipal cemetery.

Helio Gracie's last public appearance occurred in December of last year, during a belt-promotion ceremony held by Gracie Humaita at the Guanabara Yacht Club.

In October, Helio Gracie celebrated his 95th birthday at the Gracie Humaita academy, in Rio de Janeiro. Click here to see how the party went.

In one of his most famous interviews, published in the special 100th issue of GRACIEMAG, the professor had declared: "I've already told my sons that when I die I want there to be a party. No drinking, no debauchery."

All workers at Gracie Publishing, the company responsible for GRACIEMAG, NOCAUTE and GRACIEMAG.com are in mourning and express their condolences and sadness to the bereaved family, his wife Vera, sons Rorion, Relson, Rickson, Rolker, Royler, Royce, Rherica, Robin and Ricci.

We will be back with more information shortly.

Source: GRACIEMAG.com