UFC returning to Brazil after more than a decade

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 | 7:35 p.m.

The UFC is returning to Brazil.

The mixed martial arts organization announced this week it will be hosting a card Aug. 27 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, returning to the country after more than a decade. The only other card in Brazil was October 1998 in Sao Paulo.

There are several fighters from Brazil in the UFC, highlighted by current light heavyweight champion Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, middleweight champion Anderson Silva and featherweight champ Jose Aldo.

"We couldn’t wait to host our first-ever UFC event in Brazil’s biggest city,” said Dana White, UFC's co-owner and president. “Brazilians have given so much to the growth of this sport. I’m excited that we can give back to the country that has given us so many great fighters."

No matchups have been scheduled for the card, but it would seem logical that several Brazilian fighters would get the nod.

Obvious selections would be the trio of champions, but each would have to defend their titles first.

Aldo was supposed to fight Jan. 1 at UFC 125 in Las Vegas. However, he is recovering from neck surgery and was pulled from the card. Rua will defend his title in March against Rashad Evans, and Silva will fight Feb. 6 at UFC 126 in Las Vegas against Vitor Belfort in a title defense.

Also, Brazilian Renzo Gracie, 43, is reportedly interested in being part of the card. But Gracie in April lost his UFC debut to Matt Hughes in Abu Dhabi, and looked every bit of his age in the setback.

“This is another giant step forward in our global expansion and in growing UFC into the biggest sport in the world,” UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta said. “By bringing world-class fights back to Brazil, we not only secure a foothold in a major international market but we also give back to the people who have supported UFC for nearly 20 years.”