UFC targets Orlando to host December event
The UFC is finalizing its return to Florida this winter.
The promotion targets Orlando as the location for a UFC Fight Night event on Dec. 3. A specific venue isn’t known at this time, though the promotion historically has hosted events at Amway Arena.
Multiple people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the plans Wednesday but asked to remain anonymous as the UFC has yet to make an official announcement.
The card will mark the UFC’s first visit to Orlando since December 2018 and fourth time overall. Past main events included Jeremy Stephens vs. Josh Emmett (2018), Rafael dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone (2015), and Fabricio Werdum vs. Travis Browne (2014).
A main event for Dec. 3 has not been revealed, though a middleweight contender fight between Derek Brunson (23-8 MMA, 17-7 UFC) and Jack Hermansson (23-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC), confirmed for that date, could be a candidate.
After a summer of 10 arena events and only three UFC Apex shows, the promotion appears to be staying in Las Vegas for much of the fall schedule. The Orlando card is one of two UFC Fight Night events on the 2022 schedule currently expected to take place in an arena with fans.
After UFC Fight Night 209, which takes place Sept. 3 in Paris, the only known arena events are UFC 279 (Sept. 10 in Las Vegas), UFC 280 (Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi), UFC 281 (Nov. 12 in New York City), and an expected-but-not-official UFC 282 card (Dec. 10 in Las Vegas).
The Sept. 17, Oct. 1, Oct. 15, and Oct. 29 cards are all expected to take place at the UFC Apex. Nov. 5 is also expected to be at the Apex, though no location is firmly set yet.
The promotion eyed a Nov. 19 event to take place in Sweden, though sources tell MMA Junkie the UFC decided against it.
The current UFC Fight Night lineup for Dec. 3 includes:
Derek Brunson vs. Jack Hermansson
Tracy Cortez vs. Amanda Ribas
Matheus Nicolau vs. Matt Schnell
Eryk Anders vs. Kyle Daukaus
Francis Marshall vs. Marcelo Rojo
Natan Levy vs. Marcelo Rojo
Marc Diakiese vs. Michael Johnson
