Marking a return to the country that helped create modern mixed martial arts as we know it, the UFC on Wednesday announced that the promotion would stage a show at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Aug. 27, 2011.
UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta and UFC president Dana White made the announcement at City Hall, flanked by the city’s mayor Eduardo Paes.
Given the economic potential for both the promotion and potential host cities, White said the UFC’s move into the country was more than a one-time visit.
“This isn’t a test,” White said. “We believe this works everywhere. It definitely works in Brazil. All you have to do is look at the dais here. The guy who started it, the youngest champ, the best pound-for-pound, a top 10 pound-for-pound. This isn’t a test; it’s going to work in Brazil.”