UFC 262 in May, laid the groundwork for a new agreement between the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Houston’s Toyota Center to present events more often in the arena, the promotion announced Wednesday.
Contract terms and number of events were not specified, but in a press release from the promotion, the pact will start with UFC 265 on August 7 and could include a pay-per-view event in Houston in 2022.
UFC 265 features an interim UFC heavyweight championship bout between second-ranked Derrick Lewis, of Houston, and third-ranked Ciryl Gane, of France. The co-main event is a 135-pound bantamweight title fight between reigning champion Amanda Nunes and sixth-ranked Julianna Pena.
“I love the city of Houston. We had a sold-out event in May, the city and fans are incredible, so we are heading right back in August,” UFC President Dana White said in a statement. “We will continue making Toyota Center a home for UFC, including bringing another PPV [pay per view] to the city next year.”
The NBA’s Houston Rockets are the main tenants in the building, and team and arena owner Tilman Fertitta was happy to hear the news.
“We are fortunate to have a venue like Toyota Center in the great city of Houston,” Fertitta said. “As the operator of Toyota Center, it is always going to be our goal to bring more exciting, high-quality entertainment to our community.”
On May 15, more than 16,000 fight fans attended UFC 262, two days after federal health officials said fully vaccinated Americans could go without masks and social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.
At UFC 265, Lewis (25-7) will be searching for his thirteenth knockout, giving him the most in the UFC in any weight class. He holds the heavyweight record with 12.
Like Lewis, Gane (9-0) will be looking for a win to earn the chance to fight Francis Ngannou for the undisputed crown.
Nunes (21-4) has the most wins, knockouts, and winning streak in women’s MMA history. Pena (11-4) will be looking for her first title.
–Field Level Media
