UFC makes debut in South Dakota with July 13th Fight Night card

The UFC is set to make its debut in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on July 13th, only a few days after UFC 200, with a Fight Night event on FOX Sports 1.

The UFC has trips planned to several new markets in the first half of 2016, including a recent event in Zagreb, Croatia earlier this month, and upcoming events in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, Ontario, and of course, New York state. Following a report from Argus Leader, The UFC announced on Saturday afternoon that the promotion is set to make its debut in Sioux Falls, South Dakota later this year.

UFC Fight Night is slated to take place live from the Denny Sanford Premier Center on July 13, four days after the landmark event in Las Vegas, UFC 200. The event will air live on FOX Sports 1.

Dave Martin and Ed Soares changed the MMA landscape in South Dakota in 2014 with the debut of their organization, Resurrection Fighting Alliance.

“You have to remember what was happening back in 2008-09 — the Wild West years — it was embarrassing,” Martin told Argus Leader. “It wasn’t a sport. It was literally a street fight in a cage. That’s why I think you had some in this community who hated MMA. … Bringing in that first fight with Ed, we just wanted to do it the right way. To have everybody learn what MMA is all about and to get over that black eye the sport had.”

In 2015, prior to RFA’s second event in Sioux Falls, both Martin and Soares were confident the UFC would make its debut in the city sooner rather than later — and they were correct.

No fights have been booked for the card at this time.

The UFC is set to make its debut in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on July 13th, only a few days after UFC 200, with a Fight Night event on FOX Sports 1.

The UFC has trips planned to several new markets in the first half of 2016, including a recent event in Zagreb, Croatia earlier this month, and upcoming events in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, Ontario, and of course, New York state. Following a report from Argus Leader, The UFC announced on Saturday afternoon that the promotion is set to make its debut in Sioux Falls, South Dakota later this year.

UFC Fight Night is slated to take place live from the Denny Sanford Premier Center on July 13, four days after the landmark event in Las Vegas, UFC 200. The event will air live on FOX Sports 1.

Dave Martin and Ed Soares changed the MMA landscape in South Dakota in 2014 with the debut of their organization, Resurrection Fighting Alliance.

“You have to remember what was happening back in 2008-09 — the Wild West years — it was embarrassing,” Martin told Argus Leader. “It wasn’t a sport. It was literally a street fight in a cage. That’s why I think you had some in this community who hated MMA. … Bringing in that first fight with Ed, we just wanted to do it the right way. To have everybody learn what MMA is all about and to get over that black eye the sport had.”

In 2015, prior to RFA’s second event in Sioux Falls, both Martin and Soares were confident the UFC would make its debut in the city sooner rather than later — and they were correct.

No fights have been booked for the card at this time.