The Las Vegas-based promotion announced on Saturday that it will hold the landmark event at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, China. No bouts were announced for the card.
“We are always asked when the UFC will be making its debut in mainland China,” UFC Senior Vice President of International and Content Joe Carr said in a release. “We are honored to confirm that Shanghai will be the home of the very first live UFC event in mainland China and to say that we are excited is an understatement. The entire organization is looking forward to making history this year.”
Various UFC fighters will travel to Shangai in the months leading up to the event to help with promotion, beginning with reigning featherweight champion Max Holloway on Aug. 3-4. According to the release, “fans can also expect a packed schedule during fight week in late November, with appearances from guest fighters, community events and exclusive VIP experiences.”
While the UFC has not yet visited mainland China, the promotion did hold “The Ultimate Fighter: China” finale on March 1, 2014. That card saw Dong Hyun Kim score a third-round spinning back elbow knockout of John Hathaway in the evening’s main event.