The UFC is hitting a stadium in Australia in November, and they may be making a quick turnaround for their next stadium event.
According to UFC Heavyweight Champ Fabricio Werdum, along with a report from MMAFighting.com, the rematch with Cain Velasquez is being targeted for the 42,000-seat Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil, this March.
“It’s not 100 percent yet, but the fight will happen in March,” Werdum said in an interview with Guilherme Cruz. “I wanted it to take place in Porto Alegre, but Gremio’s soccer stadium doesn’t have a roof. There’s a soccer stadium in Curitiba with a retractable roof, so it’s probably going to be there. This fight will happen in a soccer stadium because a lot of people are waiting for this.
“I’m trying hard to take this fight to Brazil. I’ve fought at his home twice. He wasn’t there to fight the first time, and I fought him the second time. It’s my turn now.”
Penick’s Analysis: I suppose that’s one way to justify the rematch, if it’s what Werdum wants and to get him a title defense in his home country. Anderson Silva’s already said he’s returning on the same card in Curitiba, so it seems the UFC is moving forward with these plans. I don’t know if this particular fight can garner that much interest from fans in Brazil to sell out a venue like that, but we’ll find out if they indeed run this event there.
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