UFC 104: Zuffa returns to the Staples Center on October 24

by James Iannotti on May 24, 2009 7:07 PM EDT Comment 31 comments

At the UFC post fighter presser for last night's "Evans vs. Machida" event, UFC President Dana White officially announced his company's plans to return to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California for the first time in over three years for UFC 104 on October 24, 2009.

The Zuffa-owned mixed martial arts promotion first invaded Kobe Bryant's home turf back in May of 2006 with UFC 60: "Hughes vs. Gracie." The Southern California fans were also treated to several of today's other Octagon stars such as Diego "The Nightmare" Sanchez, Brandon "The Truth" Vera, Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga, Mike "Quick" Swick and others.

According to the California State Athletic Commission, there were a total of 14,765 fans in attendance that night, including 10,347 of which were paid attendees. The organization reportedly pulled in a live gate of $2,900,090.

That's not too shabby considering, at the time, it was the second largest live gate collected by the Ultimate Fighting Championships behind only UFC 57: "Liddell vs. Couture III." And that was even after selling over three thousand less tickets than it's preceding event, UFC 59, which was down the road at the Arrowhead Pond, in Anaheim, which pulled in a live gate of $2,191,450 on 13,060 tickets sold.

Those L.A. sports fans sure don't mind shelling out their cash to attend a sporting event. And surely, there will be plenty stars in attendance on October 24 as well. It should be a big night for the UFC.

There have been no fights announced for UFC 104 at this time, but rumors have been circling for a few weeks that this event would mark the return to action for former 205 pound champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. With that said and the timing of this announcement, it's possible this will be the spot for brand new light heavyweight champion Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida's first title defense.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on UFC 104 as it develops.

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Timing could be right for Machida vs Rampage unless they want them to coach on TUF like I have heard was a possibility.

by ---Caesar--- on May 24, 2009 7:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i dont want page and machida as coaches page was a coach 2 seasons ago

by Clinton Jackson (formerly Jared) on May 24, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont either. I just dont want to listen to Rampage say “ya feel me” like a thousand times each episode!

by ---Caesar--- on May 24, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“Kick him in the butt!”

by tomasi on May 24, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont know when the tapings start but they maybe waiting for the Lesnar/Mir outcome cause it could set up a Lesnar/Carwin fight in December. I live in Seattle and the tryouts ended atleast a onth ago. This season will feature heavyweights so it makes perfect sense. I am not buying the whole Kongo getting a title shot thing with a win. They promised Werdum a title shot atleast three times and look where he is at. When it comes down to things, Dana wants money and ratings and Kongo equals none of that.

by Kilby on May 24, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Werdum? he didn’t get a title shot because he lost and went 2-2 in the UFC..

by RoB on May 24, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i hope to hell that carwin gets next title shot and than the kongo-velasquez winner after that

by Clinton Jackson (formerly Jared) on May 24, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont think there is ANY SHOT of machida/Rampage happening at this event! They are officially coaching the next season of the uLTIMATE FIGHTER. I will be SHOCKED if that fight happens before the NEW YEARS show in December!

This event will be headlined by Shogun vs. Rashad! Remember that you heard it hear 1st!

by john on May 25, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ill take rashad against shogun

by Clinton Jackson (formerly Jared) on May 25, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nothing Concrete Clinton…just a feeling!

by john on May 26, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

will rampage really go through with that, didnt he say he would never do it again?? it these two go at it, i dont see page winning! i had to replay the 2nd round of mach/evans last night a couple of times due to shock, as everyone always noticed he is elusive with his striking, i just never really appreciated his stance, every other fighter stands horizontal or crouched, machidia back is always leaning back with his weight of his feet, amazing to me how much power he can generate like this!

by jslim on May 24, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s the basic Karate back-stance. Almost all Karate styles fight out of it. Has explosive power and is very defensive at the same time.

by Nobody on Jul 15, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it sets up perfect and lets not forget the ufc is notorious for letting guys fight for the belt either in thier hometown to where they are most comfortable fighting (ie chuck in vegas). rampage live in irvine which is, pretty close to l.a.(maybe a 10 minute drive?). i personally would love to see either a plethora of guest coaches like season 4 or i would like to see brock/mir vs carwin/kongo

by muscleshark64 on May 24, 2009 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

About time they bring it back to LA….I can’t wait!

by Mitch on May 24, 2009 8:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Please don’t make them coaches. We know who they both are. Let them fight in LA, that would be a great main event and the timing is perfect.

by thetuf75 on May 24, 2009 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This needs to be a stacked show

by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on May 24, 2009 8:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

they should just stop with TUF.
it’s the same every season…
Machida vs. Rampage WILL be a badass fight if that happen @ UFC 104. Machida will beat him, like Joe Rogan said “The Machida Era Begins…”
I just hope that James Irvin will be on that card, he’s a badass fighter and i wanna see how he’ll be able to make weight at 185.
he’s a bigass 205, let’s see how he is at middleweight.

by jsb on May 24, 2009 8:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i went to the last one at the Staples center, and dear lord i hope it is a much better show this time. we got treated to Nightmare dry humping Alessio for half the night. Still.. when the lakers win the title, the UFC is going to be expected to put on a good show. I mean, it will be like batting after Ruth!

by javster on May 24, 2009 9:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They are gonna lose to the Nuggets!

by ---Caesar--- on May 24, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you will die a painful death!

by javster on May 24, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope they don’t do TuF with Machida and Rampage either.

Stop delaying title fights with this awful TV show.

The only upside to Machida being on TuF (again, he was there when nog was coach but was not really in any scenes) is watching him destroy some TuF contestants in the ring in sparring matches.

But last time Rampage did the show he said it was too long of time off and that he would “never do that again”.

Let’s have a good title defense and let’s not screw around with a delay that could jeopardize the greatest 205 fight imo.

by DirtyML on May 24, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

if Diego beats guida it could be sanchez vs florian or sanchez vs penn

by Don on May 24, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

two early for that one. i think we could see Mir/lesnar vs cain/kongo

by Braveheart uk&roi on May 25, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow I really hope this happens so I don’t have to fly to Vegas to catch a show… much cheaper to drive down. I can’t wait if it’s true!

by ShitleTot.com on May 25, 2009 12:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I dont know about that, Kongo is my fav heavyweight and I know for sure that he has a solid fan base!!

I love his style and with some improvements in his wrestling hes a true force!! Plus hes getting more and more confident as the fights go now, hes a scary dude!!!

Im a nut job!

by mo on May 25, 2009 12:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hell yea finally, i been waiting for this

by phenomenal angel on May 25, 2009 2:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

all i know is with 102 and possibly 103 non title main events my best guess is machida vs rampage fight or heavyweight battle

by bryant on May 25, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

congo got replaced by herring

by vinny on May 26, 2009 5:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what is the reason behind Herring replacing Kongo?

anyway Rua deserves a title shot after a great performance against Chuck, Luis Cane is also a great prospect but he needs a little more time, to ripen his skills!