BELFAST WILL WELCOME the UFC to town later this year, the organisation has confirmed.
The SSE Arena will host a UFC Fight Night event on 19 November.
The venue — then the Odyssey — hosted UFC 72 which saw Rich Franklin beat Yushin Okami in 2007.
“It goes without saying that Ireland is a key market for us, and the popularity of MMA amongst Irish fans continues to grow exponentially year on year,” says James Elliott, vice president of UFC EMEA.
“Irish MMA fans are among the most passionate that we’ve seen anywhere in the world, and they have long been asking for the UFC to return.
“This year, we wanted to bring the action to Northern Ireland, and we expect the same overwhelming response when tickets go on sale.
“We look forward to delivering an unforgettable event for the city of Belfast, one which will be remembered for years to come.”