Zhang Weili of China celebrates after winning the women's strawweight title bout against Carla Esparza of the United States at the UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden in New York, the United States, Nov. 12, 2022. China's first UFC champion Zhang Weili reclaimed women's strawweight champion with a second-round submission on Carla Esparza at UFC 281 on Saturday night. [Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua]

The long-awaited return of the world's apex mixed martial arts (MMA) to China is official!

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a Las Vegas-based major MMA promotion, has confirmed that it will host a live event - UFC Fight Night Macao - at the Galaxy Macao, a world-class integrated resort destination in the southern special administrative region, on Nov 23 on prime time.

It will be the first live event hosted by the UFC in China since the organization's last appearance in 2019 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, and will mark the fourth time Macao plays host to a Fight Night since its debut in 2012.

This year the event is set to take place at Macao's largest indoor arena, the newly inaugurated Galaxy Arena. Featuring unobstructed views from every seat and state-of-the-art production, events at the Galaxy Arena are immersive and unforgettable experiences. Galaxy Macao's commitment to promoting sports and tourism in the city with complete integration will make the fight a thrilling opportunity for fans.

"We are ecstatic to be back at this incredible destination city," said Kevin Chang, UFC's senior vice-president and head of Asia. "Our last UFC event here was a decade ago in 2014, and since then, our brand has grown by leaps and bounds. We are proud to partner with Galaxy Macao and can't wait to put on an electrifying show at the state-of-the-art Galaxy Arena to the delight of fans across the region."

Kevin Kelley, COO of Galaxy Entertainment Group, said the UFC's return is expected to help build the city's emerging reputation as an international hub of world-class sporting events.

"We welcome UFC's return to Macao after 10 years," said Kelley. "This event is a prestigious addition to Galaxy Arena's growing portfolio of international sports events, which includes the ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup Macao 2024 and The Women's Volleyball Nations League 2024 Macao."

The UFC currently has over 700 million fans worldwide, with 410 million of them in Asia. Events such as UFC Fight Night Macao showcase UFC's influence in the Chinese market continues to expand, with Chinese stars including Zhang Weili, Li Jingliang, Song Yadong, and Yan Xiaonan cementing China power on the global stage.

Migu Video's in-depth content and footage, the UFC Fan Expo taking place across multiple Chinese cities, the popular China Mixed Martial Arts Comprehensive Physical Fitness Championship, and the promotion of fitness programs developed by the Shanghai UFC Performance Institute all highlight how the UFC has been delivering and growing MMA to the general public in a multi-dimensional and localized manner, making it one of the most influential and fastest-growing global professional sports organizations in China over the past decade, with a fan base of 148 million in the country.

As the Greater Bay Area (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao) prepares to jointly host the 2025 Chinese National Games, Macao, with its unique geographical location, rich tourism resources, and strong sports DNA, is further accelerating its tourism economy by leveraging major sports events.

As the largest indoor sports venue in Macao, the Galaxy Arena has already hosted the ITTF World Cup, FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League, Yao Foundation Charity Game, and will also serve as a venue for next year's National Games.

In conjunction with the Fight Night event, the UFC will also launch a series of fitness activities aimed at sports enthusiasts and the public in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and other locations from September to November, allowing more fans to experience the excitement of MMA.

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