Report: UFC Interested in Acquiring Naming Rights for New Las Vegas Arena

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Come next year, fighters could ply their trade in a venue bearing the name of the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion.

According to a report from Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is in talks to acquire naming rights for the new arena slated to open in Sin City in early 2016. Promotion officials currently are in preliminary discussions with MGM and AEG Live, which own the arena.

No agreements have been signed, but a decision could come within the next two weeks, according to the report. To acquire the naming rights to the arena -- and the brand exposure that accompanies it – would potentially cost the UFC millions of dollars.

The $375 million dollar arena is located behind the New York-New York and Monte Carlo casinos near Interstate 15 and seats approximately 20,000 people. In addition to MMA, the facility will host boxing matches and concerts. An ownership group is in the preliminary process of bringing professional hockey to Las Vegas; if successful, that NHL team would also call the new facility home.

The Las Vegas-based organization is already planning to hold UFC 200 at the as-yet-unnamed venue. The card will take place on July 9, 2016, as part of International Fight Week. According to a release from the UFC earlier this year, it is “expected to be the biggest event in company history.”