International Fight Week 2021 set for UFC 266 in September

Man, was it ever frustrating watching International Fight Week 2020 get scuttled by COVID-19. Originally set for July 7 - 12, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was forced to cancel the event because of limitations on public gatherings imposed by the state.

Fortunately, the United States is sitting in a better place now than it was 12 months ago. And while we aren’t going to get the usual summer time Vegas International Fight Week, UFC has now announced the slightly delayed schedule for International Fight Week 2021: Tues., Sept. 21, 2021, to Sat., Sept. 25, 2021, coinciding with the promotion’s UFC 266 card at T-Mobile Arena in “Sin City.”

Here’s the statement released by UFC:

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TWO TITLES UP FOR GRABS! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) makes its highly anticipated return to Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sat., Nov. 11, 2023, with a re-worked pay-per-view (PPV) main card. In the ESPN+-streamed main event, former 205-pound roost-ruler, Jiri Prochazka, will lock horns with ex-Middleweight kingpin, Alex Pereira, for the promotion’s vacant Light Heavyweight title. In UFC 295’s co-main event, top-ranked Heavyweight contenders, Sergei Pavlovich (No. 2) and Tom Aspinall (No. 4), will collide for the interim strap after division champion, Jon Jones, was injured with a torn pectoral muscle and forced to withdraw (video).

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UFC today announced that the 9th Annual UFC International Fight Week will take place in Las Vegas from Tuesday, September 21, through Saturday, September 25, headlined by UFC 266: VOLKANOVSKI vs. ORTEGA, presented by Modelo. The event-filled week will also include the traditional 2020 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and a two-day, interactive UFC Fan Experience. The prestigious 2020 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Toyo Tires will be held on Thursday, September 23, and will honor specific achievements and contributions to UFC and the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.

In addition, on Friday, September 24, and continuing on Saturday, September 25, fans will be able to take part in an easily accessible and fully interactive, free, two-day UFC Fan Experience that will feature meet and greets, autograph sessions, and partner activations that provide unprecedented access to UFC champions, top-ranked contenders, Hall of Famers, and other UFC personalities.

Fans from around the world who converge on Las Vegas for UFC International Fight Week will also be able to enjoy ceremonial weigh-ins, press conferences and live entertainment of a traditional Fight Week leading to the schedule’s culminating event, UFC 266: VOLKANOVSKI vs. ORTEGA, on Saturday, September 25, at T-Mobile Arena.

UFC 266 will be headlined by the Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega fight for the featherweight title, and the co-main will feature a women’s strawweight championship fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Lauren Murphy. A third five round fight on the card also pits Nick Diaz and Robbie Lawler against each other in a rematch of their 2004 classic.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 266 fight card and rumors click here.