The UFC will hold its March 11, 2023 Fight Night event in Las Vegas, Nevada — but for a change, the card will not take place at its own UFC Apex facility.
Instead, the event will go down at the The Theater at Virgin Hotels. The venue confirmed the booking on Thursday, in conjunction with a video package promoting the UFC’s first quarter of 2023 played following the UFC 282 press conference.
Anthony Smith vs. Jamahal Hill is expected to headline the event, which already has a handful of fights reported for it.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the promotion has set up shop inside the Apex, its own small venue constructed to house endeavors like Dana White’s Contender Series and The Ultimate Fighter.
With construction completed shortly before COVID-19 hit, having the Apex at the ready was a massive stroke of luck that allowed the UFC to continue, business as usual, when other sports leagues were struggling with how to work around the various obstacles a global pandemic threw at them.
Initially, fans seemed to enjoy the empty venue atmosphere, which allowed them to clearly hear fighters and their corners communicating throughout bouts. But as the pandemic dragged on, that sentiment appeared to change.
Fans being back in the building at several events in 2022 was a welcome sight.
To date, the following match-ups have been announced for the UFC’s March 11, 2023 Fight Night card:
- Anthony Smith vs. Jamahal Hill
- Tyson Nam vs. Bruno Gustavo da Silva
- Abu Azaitar vs. Sedriques Dumas
- Łukasz Brzeski vs. Karl Williams
