The UFC Apex is the main arena for the Ultimate Fighting Championships and hosts the most fights, between 1 and 2 every month. Sitting just across the street from the UFC HQ, or UFC Performance Institute, the Apex is a humble venue that can seat only 1,000 but it has one of the fiercest atmospheres. The Apex is not only a UFC venue either, but it has also hosted a fair few Power Slap events and Dana White’s Contender Series.
However, the very first UFC event, UFC: The Beginning, was held in Denver, Colorado. Starting in 1993, the first Las Vegas UFC fight came in 2001 at the Mandalay Bay Center, and the UFC Apex was built some 18 years later. Las Vegas may be the home of UFC, but there are plenty of US venues outside Nevada that have also hosted top UFC events. The UFC has travelled to over 25 countries, including Canada, the UK, China, Mexico, and Singapore. However, the majority are still held in the US.
Top UFC Venues Outside Las Vegas
The UFC may have started in the early 90s, but for much of that decade, the sport was banned in the majority of US states. John McCain led the campaign against UFC and mixed martial arts, leading to 36 states banning “no-holds-barred” fighting. The UFC responded by introducing weight classes, tightening the laws so that moves such as head butting and fish hooking were banned, and mandating the use of gloves. By 2000, the lawmakers’ stance on UFC loosened, and California became the first to sign off on the codified laws in 2000.
The next 10 years saw an explosion in interest and a massive expansion across the country. In 2012, the UFC branched out to include women’s MMA fights, and by 2017, the UFC opened its Performance Institute, or headquarters, in Las Vegas. In 2016, New York legalized MMA, becoming the 50th and final state to approve mixed martial arts, thus legalizing UFC across the whole country. Though Las Vegas is the main home of UFC, with numerous institutions such as MGM Grand, T-Mobile Arena, Mandalay Bay, and Palms Casino Resort hosting the most fights, there have been numerous venues outside Las Vegas that have also hosted big bouts.
Since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, there has also been a huge increase in betting on the UFC as it has grown in popularity. Nearly all sportsbooks offer UFC betting markets and odds, with most of them offering up tasty UFC bonus bet offers.
Here is a list of the biggest venues for UFC outside Las Vegas.
#10. Toyota Center – Houston, TX
First hosting the UFC 69: Shootout in 2007, the Toyota Center loves a good bout. In addition to UFC, it also hosts Bellator MMA and WWE events. The Toyota Center has hosted some devastating fights, including UFC on 262: Oliveira vs Chandler and UFC 271: Adesanya vs Whittaker 2.
#9. Boardwalk Hall – Atlantic City, NJ
The first UFC fight at Boardwalk Hall came in 2003, at UFC 41: Onslaught. Over 11,000 fans came out to watch Tim Sylvia beat the heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez in Atlantic City, and the UFC returned in 2004 and 2005. Most recently, this venue featured UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs Lee and UFC on ESPN: Blanchfield vs Fiorot.
#8. VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena – Jacksonville, FL
Originally, the Seminole Hard Rock was the preferred venue for UFC fights in Florida, but they have since moved to the VyStars Veterans Memorial Arena (originally the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena). The maiden UFC fight at VyStars Memorial was contested in an empty venue, since it was during COVID-19. The following two fights at the arena were also played in an empty stadium, but the fourth fight, UFC 261: Usman vs Masvidal 2, had an attendance of over 15,000. It has become one of the key UFC arenas in Florida, and has hosted several big bouts.
#7. Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
This venue first hosted a UFC fight in 2007, the UFC 78: Validation with Michael Bisping vs Rashad Evans headlining the event. Since then, it has hosted over 10 events, and can seat over 17,000 viewers. It has hosted some pretty epic fights, including UFC 111: St-Pierre vs Hardy, UFC 288: Sterling vs Cejudo and UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier. Home of the New Jersey Devils (NHL), Prudential Center is an important UFC venue on the East Coast.
#6. Nationwide Arena – Columbus, OH
Ohio got its first taste of UFC in 2007 at UFC 68: The Uprising. The bout between heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and the challenger, Randy Couture, ended in a unanimous decision to the challenger. Since then, Nationwide Arena has hosted numerous fights such as UFC 82, UFC 96 and UFC on ESPN Blaydes vs Daukus. Nationwide Arena can seat over 19,000 fans, and is an ever popular destination for UFC aficionados in the Midwest.
#5. Honda Center – Anaheim, CA
UFC 59: Reality Check was the first event held at the Honda Center, back in 2006, and since it has become a favored UFC destination in California. Originally named the Anaheim Arena, this stadium is the home of the NHL Anaheim Ducks and it is one of the larger UFC venues. Some legendary clashes at the Honda Center include UFC 270: Ngannou vs Gane and UFC 298: Volkanovski vs Topuria.
#4. United Center – Chicago, IL
United Center in Chicago, Illinois, hosted its first UFC event in 2012. UFC on Fox: Evans vs Davis was watched by a crowd of over 16,000 as Rashad Evans beat Davis by unanimous decision. This Chicago-based venue has since hosted numerous UFC events, including UFC 225: Whittaker vs Romero 2, and EFC on ESPN: Woodley vs Burns.
#3. American Airlines Arena – Dallas, TX
Dallas got its first taste of UFC fighting in 2009 in the bout between Rich Franklin and Vitor Belfort. The American Airlines Center has a large capacity and has hosted some fantastic bouts since, including Pena vs Nunes 2 at UFC 277 and Woodley vs Till at UFC 228. Also, the arena of the Dallas Stars (NHL) and Dallas Mavericks (NBA), there is almost always something to look forward to at this mighty venue.
#2. TD Garden – Boston, MA
UFC often saves big fights for TD Garden, and it made its debut in 2010 at UFC 118: Edgar vs Penn 2. Since then, this Boston venue that is home to the Boston Celtics (NBA) and Boston Bruins (NHL) has hosted some significant events. Miocic and Ngannou faced each other here at UFC 220, as well as Reyes vs Weidman at UFC on ESPN and Sterling vs O’Malley at UFC 292.
#1. Madison Square Garden – New York City, NY
A biggie, Madison Square Garden is a legendary venue that is home to the NY Knicks and NY Rangers, and has hosted some of the biggest musical acts in the world. In 2016, the NY venue hosted UFC 205: Alvarez vs McGregor, a fight that did not disappoint as Conor McGregor powered to a victory. Nate Diaz, Georges St-Pierre, and Alex Pereira have also headlined at Madison Square Gardens, and the biggest of these fights have drawn audiences of over 20,000.
So there you have it, my 10 favorite UFC venues outside of Sin City. If you think I have missed one out, or there is a venue more deserving of a place, please feel free to let me know.
