The octagon will return to Brazil in 2023, and Brazilian fans will have a different platform on which to consume UFC content when it does.
On Wednesday, promotion officials announced that UFC 283 will take place on January 21, 2023 at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event, which does not have any fights currently reported, will mark the promotion’s first visit to the South American nation since a March 14, 2020 trip to Brasilia — the first empty arena show of the pandemic era, and the final UFC event prior to a string of cancellations brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.
The UFC last visited Rio in 2019, when the city played host to UFC 237: Namajunas vs. Andrade.
In addition to UFC 283, the promotion revealed via press release on Wednesday that it would be launching a localized version of UFC Fight Pass in Brazil. Currently, as it has for close to two decades, UFC content in Brazil airs on Globo television’s Combate, but that will be no more. Instead, UFC events and ancillary programming will be distributed via Fight Pass, with select events airing on free-to-air network Band.
“Anyone who follows this sport knows how important Brazil is to mixed martial arts and to UFC. Brazil is one of our biggest and fastest growing markets and has produced some of the best athletes this sport has ever seen,” Dana White, UFC President, was quoted as saying in Wednesday’s press release. “FIGHT PASS is going to take our business to the next level by delivering all our content directly to our fans. Plus, we’re teaming up with Band, one of the biggest broadcasters in Brazil, which is going to provide massive exposure for UFC and help us grow our fan base and make this sport bigger than ever. And finally– I’m excited to announce that we’re coming back to Brazil on January 21 for UFC 283 with a stacked event you don’t want to miss – I’ll see you all there!”
The Brazilian version of UFC Fight Pass is expected to cost fans 24.90 BRL per month — or roughly $5 USD.
