UFC 289 reportedly targeted as promotion’s long-awaited return to Canada

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will reportedly return to the “Great White North” in 2023.

The promotion is targeting its long-awaited Canada comeback this year and UFC 289 on June 10, 2023, is expected to take place in Calgary, Alberta, according to Ariel Helwani. No specific venue of main event for the pay-per-view (PPV) event has been shared at this time.

It’s been nearly four years since UFC held an event north of the United States border. UFC Vancouver marked the last event when headlined by Justin Gaethje vs. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in Sept. 2019. In terms of Calgary, specifically, UFC was last in the city for UFC on Fox 30 in July 2018, featuring the rematch between top Lightweight stars, Dustin Poirier and former champion, Eddie Alvarez.

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OCTAGON RETURNS TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Canada for the first time in almost four years when it hosts UFC 289 inside Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sat., June 10, 2023. In UFC 289’s pay-per-view (PPV) main event, women’s Bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes, will lock horns with No. 5-ranked 135-pound contender, Irene Aldana, while former Lightweight kingpin and current No. 1-seeded contender, Charles Oliveira, battles No. 4-ranked Beneil Dariush in the co-feature with 155-pound title implications on the line.

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While the location has yet to be confirmed by the promotion, UFC has already begun shaping the card with early fight announcements that feature Canadians or fighters residing in Canada. In fact, it was revealed today (Tues., March 28, 2023) that a Strawweight pairing between Diana Belbita and Maria Oliveira has been added to the card. Belbita — a Stony Creek, Ontario, resident — hasn’t fought since Feb. 2022 and the return at home would make for the first fight of her 21-fight career on Canadian soil.

UFC 289 will continue to take shape over the coming weeks and months. As of right now, check out the current line up below:

• 125 lbs.: Miranda Maverick vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
• 185 lbs.: Eryk Anders vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
• 115 lbs.: Diana Belbita vs. Maria Oliveira

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 289 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 289: “Nunes vs. Aldana” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.