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#4. UFC Paris: Accor Arena
Paris, France has been a market that the UFC should take advantage of going forward. The country finally legalized MMA in 2020, however, Dana White has stated he won’t go anywhere that isn’t one-hundred percent capacity. With that in mind, the ongoing COVID pandemic hasn’t done any favors for the promotion. In terms of venue, the Accor Arena would be suitable for the promotion's debut. The 20,000 seat multipurpose arena is quite popular and will be one of the arenas for the 2024 Olympics.
Accor Arena would've been the perfect venue for the heavyweight championship unification bout between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane. White had previously stated that the plan was to have the heavyweights headline the promotion’s first event in Paris. However, the rise of COVID cases and variants put an end to that plan. Instead, their heavyweight championship unification bout took place in Anaheim, California, which saw 'The Predator' retain the title.
Despite the heavyweight championship unification bout not taking place in Paris, either fighter could still headline a future event there. Both stars have spent time in France and should sell out the arena if an event is held.
#3. UFC Vegas: Allegiant Stadium
Las Vegas, Nevada has been the sight of some of the biggest events in UFC history. The promotion has a strong presence in that market as that’s the sight of their Apex and headquarters.
For years, they’ve hosted many events at venues like Pearl at the Palms, MGM Grand Garden Arena, and T-Mobile Arena. After establishing themselves as a destination for combat sports in Vegas, they should capitalize on their reputation and raise the bar.
Going forward, the promotion should consider hosting its annual International Fight Week pay-per-view at Allegiant Stadium. The 65,000+ seat capacity stadium opened in 2020 and is home to the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League.
Since opening, the stadium has also been the sight of many concerts and events, including WWE SummerSlam last August. International Fight Week could become a bigger spectacle at Allegiant Stadium and would continue to grow their brand.
