MMA’s leading organization is about to make its long awaited return to the country that in many ways is the very birthplace of the sport, Brazil.
The South American country is not only the home of the proto-MMA sport of Vale Tudo but also to the legendary Gracie family whom’s exploits were the direct inspiration for the first North American MMA event. Since UFC 1 many of their fellow countrymen have followed Royce Gracie into the Octagon, with the country currently boasting three UFC champions in Featherweight Jose Aldo, Middleweight Anderson Silva and Light Heavyweight Shogun Rua.
Despite this rich pedigree, Brazil has only hosted only one UFC event back in 1998 when Ultimate Brazil saw Frank Shamrock and Pat Miletech both headline in a championship double-header. A return has been long rumored and today UFC President Dana White, flanked by some of Brazil’s most illustrious fighters, announced that the organization would hold an event on Aug. 27 at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. With almost forty Brazillian fighters under contract the UFC will not struggle to find home fighters to put on the marquee, with White saying that “We don’t need the Brazilians on the card to have a great show in Brazil, but there is going to be a lot of guys desperate to fight in front of their home fans”.
There’s no word yet as to who will fight on the event, but White confirmed that it would be a PPV and would be a ‘major’ one at that. The show will air live in the USA, with the three hour time difference overcome by starting the live event at 11PM.
