‘UFC Rio’ Official for August 2011

“UFC Rio” will take place Aug. 27, 2011, at the 18,000-seat HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, UFC President Dana White announced today at a press conference inside Rio’s City Palace, the official residence of Mayor Eduardo Paes.

“I’m sure many of you have seen it on television,” White told the assembled press. “But I’m telling you right now, when we bring this live event down here to Rio, it is the most exciting live sporting event you will ever see. I know, coming from me, it sounds a little biased, but I’m telling you -- when we get you inside that arena, what I call ‘the virus’ will spread.”

In addition to White and UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, the panel for the press conference featured an all-star lineup of Brazilian athletes: current UFC champions Anderson Silva, Mauricio Rua and Jose Aldo were in attendance, as were former champion Vitor Belfort and MMA godfather Royce Gracie. Mayor Paes also appeared briefly and was awarded an honorary UFC title belt for his support of the promotion.

While no fights were announced for the still far-off engagement, spots on the show’s roster are sure to be coveted amongst the 36 Brazilian fighters who the UFC currently has under contract.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of Brazilians that are gonna wanna fight on this card down in Rio, so we’ll see how it all plays out,” White said. “Believe me when I tell you, we’re gonna bring you a good card and you will have your Brazilian favorites on the card, I guarantee you.”

White said that tickets for the event will go on sale in May, though prices were not yet undetermined. He also confirmed that the UFC would not be bringing one of its popular fan expos to Brazil this time around, though he stressed that he believes the timing is right for the promotion’s first show in the country in over a decade.

“I think that coming to Brazil any earlier than this -- it just wasn’t the time. Right now is the time for us to come to Brazil,” White said.

“This isn’t a test. This is gonna work in Brazil.”