The ghosts of Saitama Super Arena will be awoken once again, as the UFC intends to return to the legendary Japanese venue for a “major event” on September 20, 2014, according to UFC Asia Managing Director Mark Fischer.
Fischer announced the decision following the conclusion of Saturday night’s TUF China Finale in Macau, China, although he did not offer any specifics regarding the event.
The Saitama Super Arena is a massive 37,000-seat arena located at the heart of Saitama, Japan. From 2000 to 2007, it served as the home for 24 Pride FC events.
The UFC first returned to the Saitama Super Arena in 2012 with a pay-per-view event headlined by then-lightweight champion Frankie Edgar versus Benson Henderson, as well as former Pride FC stars Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Mark Hunt. 13 months later the promotion returned to Saitama with a UFC on FUEL card featuring one of Pride FC’s biggest draws, Wanderlei Silva, as well as Hunt and former Pride champion Takanori Gomi.
In addition, Fischer announced that the UFC intends to return to Macau’s CotaiArena, China on August 23, 2014 for yet another UFC Fight Night event.
The event would mark the UFC’s third visit to Macau following Saturday night’s TUF China Finale, which culminated in Dong Hyun Kim’s dramatic third-round knockout win over John Hathaway, and 2012’s UFC on FUEL offering which featured middleweights Cung Le and Rich Franklin.