UFC Dublin: UFC announce long awaited return will take place on August 15
Mixed martial arts' premier promotion will return to the Emerald Isle in August.
The UFC have announced their long-awaited return to Dublin. Mixed martial arts’ premier promotion last touched down in the Emerald Isle in October 2015.
The Republic of Ireland has been a hotbed for mixed martial arts in recent years, so much so fans have been screaming for the UFC to bring another event to its shores.
And the promotion have duly obliged.
On Thursday afternoon, the promotion announced its long-awaited return to Dublin will take place on August 15.
The Fight Night card will take place at the 3Arena.
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The UFC will make its long-awaited return to the Octagon on August 15
The UFC’s last show in Dublin took place in October 2015 and was headlined by a flyweight bout between local boy Paddy Holohan and Louis Smolka.
Prior to UFC Fight Night 76, the promotion’s last visit to The Fair City took place in July 2014 and was headlined by a featherweight fight between the pride of Dublin Conor McGregor and Diego Brandao.
UFC Fight Night 46 provided one of the most seminal moments in Irish MMA and an atmosphere that has yet to have been rivalled.
The UFC’s Senior Vice President of International and Content David Shaw is over the moon to have facilitated the promotion’s return to Dublin and is relishing the event.
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He said: “We kicked off the year with a phenomenal comeback from Conor McGregor at UFC 246, and now we are thrilled to announce our return to Ireland after four-years.
“With Irish fans amongst the most passionate UFC supporters in the world, and Dublin being such an iconic global city, we can’t wait to put on another world class event for our fans there.”
The UFC’s first visit to Dublin took place 11 years ago, with Hall-of-Famers Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson headlining UFC 93.
The promotion’s return to Dublin has sparked suggestions McGregor could end up headlining the show.
That, however, is very unlikely as the ‘The Notorious’ is one of the biggest pay-per-view stars in the planet and the promotion won’t want to waste the opportunity to cash in on his draw power by putting him on a Fight Night card - especially given their new deal with ESPN.
Time difference would also be a major stumbling block, with the east and west coasts of America six and eight hours behind Ireland respectively.
The UFC’s next European show will take place at London’s O2 Arena on March 21.
The card will be headlined by a welterweight title eliminator between former champion Tyron Woodley and Birmingham’s Leon Edwards.