At today’s Press Conference from the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil UFC president Dana White announced that the promotion would be returning to that country after an almost 13 year absence.
White confirmed the promotion would host a pay-per-view event on Aug. 27th at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. It’s still too early for the UFC to name the event or to identify fighters who would participate on the card, but White assured reporters the event would be heavy with Brazilian talent.
Joining the UFC president at the press conference was UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, the Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Paes, UFC fighters Anderson Silva, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Jose Aldo, Vitor Belfort, as well as BJJ legend and UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie.
Until today’s announcement, the first and only UFC event held in Brazil took place on Oct. 16, 1998 and was called “UFC Ultimate Brazil.” The event featured a UFC middleweight (The Light Heavyweight Title was known as the Middleweight Title prior to UFC 31) title match between champion Frank Shamrock versus John Lober as well as a middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva.