The UFC’s deliberate return to China must wait till 2024.
The upcoming card on Dec. 9 initially scheduled in Shanghai, China is now anticipated to shift again to Las Vegas with the occasion happening on the UFC APEX.
A number of folks with data of the promotion’s plans confirmed the information to MMA Preventing on Wednesday. MMA supervisor Shu Hirata first introduced the information on Twitter.
The UFC has made no official announcement in regards to the swap or why the occasion will now not happen in China.
The cardboard is anticipated to stay the identical with Song Yadong going through Chris Gutierrez in the principle occasion.
Over the previous few years, the UFC has continued increasing additional and additional into the Asian market with a selected deal with China. The UFC opened a Efficiency Institute in China whereas additionally selling Street to the UFC, which focuses on up and coming prospects competing to earn a spot on the principle roster.
The cardboard initially scheduled in Shanghai was anticipated to be the UFC’s first card in China since 2019 when Zhang Weili claimed the strawweight title with a shocking knockout over Jessica Andrade.
The worldwide pandemic shut down loads of the UFC’s journey to worldwide places however this was anticipated to function the promotion’s push again into China.
Sadly it seems these plans must wait till a later date now that the UFC Struggle Night time card on Dec. 9 is anticipated to happen in Las Vegas.
Mike Heck contributed to this report.
