The UFC is pulling out all the stops for its first event at the Sphere on Sep. 17.
How It’s All Shaping Up
UFC 306 takes on a new form as the premier MMA promotion announced on Wednesday that they’d be rebranding the upcoming fight card to “Riyadh Season Noche UFC”, picking up an unprecedented title sponsor.
The second Noche UFC event will commemorate Mexican Independence Day as it did last September, but this time with a whole new twist when it takes place at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada – making Noche UFC the first-ever sporting event to be held at the unique venue.
“Riyadh Season Noche UFC will utilize Sphere’s state-of-the-art audio and video capabilities to deliver a live experience never before witnessed in the history of sports,” the promotion wrote on what’s to come (via UFC.com). “The venue’s next-generation technologies include the world’s highest resolution LED display that wraps up, over and around the audience, creating a fully immersive visual environment. The venue also features the world’s most advanced audio system, Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, which delivers audio with unmatched clarity and precision to every guest.”
The UFC made the message loud and clear with a grand Noche UFC promo on The Sphere, Wednesday evening. See it for yourself below.
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White Says Noche UFC Will Be A “Once-in-a-lifetime Experience For Sports Fans”
Similar to UFC 300 earlier this year, UFC CEO Dana White has been hyping up this Sphere show for several months, promising to put on a show like no other, shelling out millions of dollars for what could be the UFC’s first and final event at the venue. One-off or not, “This will be one of the biggest sporting events of all time,” White said in a statement.
“What we’re going to pull off at Sphere will never be done again,” the UFC boss continued. “This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for sports fans. At the same time, this is going to be an incredible tribute to the Mexican people for their extraordinary contributions to combat sports. We’re thrilled that Turki Alalshikh and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority have stepped up to partner with us to make this the greatest event in the history of combat sports. Their participation shows just how massive the interest is from all over the world. Riyadh Season Noche UFC will be unforgettable.”
The Return Of Alexa Grasso
No fights have been announced for Noche UFC as of yet, however the Mexican Independence Day weekend card wouldn’t be complete without a champion from Mexico. Guadalajara’s Alexa Grasso has confirmed she will be defending her flyweight title at Noche UFC with all signs pointing to a trilogy fight with Valentina Shevchenko as they coached the latest season of “The Ultimate Fighter” against other.
However, “Bullet” has been very vocal on why she doesn’t like the idea of fighting at Noche UFC again, preferring to fight in her home country of Kyrgyzstan.
“That’s the plan. That’s the fight I would like that to happen,” Grasso said, when asked if she’s fighting Shevchenko next. “I have to be part of Noche UFC. How can I not be part of Noche UFC this year? So, I just truly hope that she can accept the fight. It’s good for both of us, you know?”
A Potential Alternate
If Shevchenko doesn’t sign her end of the deal for Noche UFC, Alexa Grasso could foresee a title defense with French contender Manon Fiorot at the monumental event instead.
“Yes, I think that’s her opportunity, too. I mean, she’s a number 2 contender, I think she’s been having, like a nice winning streak. So, just in case, if this is not Valentina, it’s I think it’s gonna be Manon,” Grasso added.
Manon Fiorot is riding a 7-fight win streak inside the UFC and right on the cusp of a title shot, following a dominant win over Erin Blanchfield at UFC Atlantic City in April.
Champ Alexa Grasso last fought Valentina Shevchenko to a split draw in the main event of Noche UFC last September, leaving the T-Mobile Arena as still the reigning, defending women’s strawweight champion of the world. We’ll see if that fact stays intact at the same time this year.
