Born in Manaus, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo has never hidden the desire of fighting in the city, and he might have an opportunity in 2016.
Arthur Virgilio Neto, mayor of Manaus and a coral belt (red and black) in jiu-jitsu under Carlos Gracie and Carlson Gracie, revealed that the UFC has agreed to host an event in the city in 2016, and it could be a gigantic card.
“The UFC has given the green light for us to receive an event in Manaus,” Neto posted on his Instagram. “The date chosen is the first semester of 2016, when we will welcome the biggest MMA promotion in the world. Who guaranteed me that was UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, who I had two meetings in the United States.”
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Antonio Braga Neto, Diego Brandao, Adriano Martins, Carlos Diego Ferreira and Alan Patrick are the other UFC fighters born in or connected with the city of Manaus. According to Neto, the UFC will evaluate the arenas and stadiums in the city to choose the venue, but is interested in holding a big fight card at the Amazon Arena, a 41,000-seat soccer stadium built for the 2014 World Cup.
Neto stated that 9ine, one of the biggest marketing companies in Brazil that recently purchased Fort Lauderdale Strikers, will pay for all the costs of the event.