Giddyup Texan MMA fans!
Ultimate Fighting Championship is heading back to the Lone Star State.
Specifically, Dana White is bringing the world's number one mixed martial arts promotion to Cowboys Stadium located just outside of Dallas. And he intends to git 'er done by the end of this year.
Here's what he told The Dallas Morning News on his plans to bring the UFC to Jerry Jones' new palace:
"We're definitely, 100 percent going to Cowboys Stadium, no doubt about it. We just have to figure out what fight we'll take there. I want to sell it out [and] if we price the tickets right, it should. With our sport, people will fly in from all over the world."
White later added that he's aiming to accomplish this move within the next eight months, meaning of course by the end of this year.
It's an interesting change in live event strategy for the UFC, as White has gone on record several times in the past for preferring the arena experience, where a maximum of 20,000 fans could be in attendance, as opposed to a large stadium, which could hold 50,000 plus MMA fans.
But there's a reason for it. And boxing is its name.
Last month, boxing held their own version of a mega event inside Cowboys Stadium and packed the place with 50,000 people wanting to see the great Manny Pacquiao in action. Guess who was one of them?
That's right, Dana White himself was shown the light by the sport of boxing. He loved the experience so much, that his mind was immediately changed, and now has every intention on bringing his own brand of combat sport to Cowboys Stadium.
From the Sports Business Daily:
"Before I went, people were asking if I would do an event there and I said, 'No way, I've got to stay away from stadiums because I don't want to lose that UFC experience.' I went there and said, 'Holy crap, how fast can we come here?' It's that good.' I think you can do that stadium and not lose the feeling and energy. That big screen helps. I was sitting right underneath it and it was nicer looking at the screen than looking into the ring and seeing it live."
There you have it, straight from the horse's mouth. The UFC will return to Texas in grand fashion sometime this year. And if the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey fight, deemed The Event, is any indication, we can expect one heck of a show.
MMMAmania.com will be your source for news on the UFC's venture into Cowboys Stadium. Keep it locked.
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