UFC 161 start times, fight card, TV schedule, media events and video preview

It’s fight week again for the UFC, which heads to Canada on Saturday (June 15) for UFC 161. Here’s the essential information for fight week.

START TIME: UFC 161 takes place Saturday at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, where the Canadian city plays host to the UFC for the first time. The night’s six-bout preliminary card streams on Facebook and YouTube beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (6 p.m. CT local time). The main card airs on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET.

EVENT BACKGROUND: UFC 161 initially was expected to feature a bantamweight headliner between interim champion Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland. However, when Barao suffered a foot injury and was forced off the card on May 21, Wineland eventually was pulled from the lineup too, and the Dan Henderson vs. Rashad Evans light-heavyweight co-headliner was promoted to the main event. The card then lost its light-heavyweight co-headliner between Mauricio Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on June 2 when “Lil Nog” suffered a back injury. Recent title challenger Chael Sonnen offered up his services as a replacement, but the bout with “Shogun” ultimately was scheduled to headline UFC on FOX Sports 1 1 in August. A fight between rising heavyweight contender Roy Nelson (a non-injury replacement for Soa Palelei) and Stipe Miocic is now the co-headliner.

ON SITE: Assistant editor Matt Erickson and columnist Ben Fowlkes are on site in Winnipeg this week. Give them a follow on Twitter (@MMAjunkieMatt and @BenFowlkesMMA) for updates from fan and media events all week.

WEDNESDAY’S OPEN WORKOUTS: The UFC hosts two sets of open workouts this week. Wednesday’s take place at Winnipeg’s Portage Place in Edmonton Court, and the festivities are open to the public. They kick off at noon ET (11 a.m. CT) and include Ryan Jimmo, Alexis Davis, Pat Barry, Shawn Jordan, Sam Stout, Sean Pierson, Roland Delorme, Mitche Clarke and Yves Jabouin.

THURSDAY’S OPEN WORKOUTS: Thursday’s workouts take place at The Met in Winnipeg, though they’re closed to the public. They kick off at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT) with Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson, Roy Nelson, Stipe Miocic, Alexis Davis and Rosi Sexton. UFC President Dana White also is scheduled to do a scrum with reporters. We’ll have full coverage throughout the day.

THURSDAY’S RADIO INTERVIEWS: Thursday’s edition of MMAjunkie.com Radio will feature a host of fighters from Saturday’s card. Tune in at noon ET. Igor Pokrajac, Edwin Figueroa, Kenny Robertson, John Maguire and Dustin Pague are tentatively scheduled for the show.

FRIDAY’S WEIGH-INS: Friday’s weigh-ins take place at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre. You can watch a live video stream or get live text-only results beginning at 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. CT). We’ll also have a video replay and full photo gallery available afterward.

SATURDAY’S EVENT: Join us at 7 p.m. ET for UFC 161 play-by-play and live results. You can also discuss UFC 161 in our discussion thread. Afterward, watch the post-UFC 161 press conference on MMAjunkie.com at approximately 1:30 a.m. ET (12:30 a.m. CT).

FULL UFC 161 FIGHT CARD

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

• Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson
• Stipe Miocic vs. Roy Nelson
• Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton
• Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan
• Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX, 8 p.m. ET)

• Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley
• James Krause vs. Sam Stout
• Sean Pierson vs. Kenny Robertson
• Roland Delorme vs. Edwin Figueroa

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 7 p.m. ET)

• Mitch Clarke vs. John Maguire
• Yves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague

For the latest on UFC 161, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.