UFC returning to Brazil, headed to Rio de Janeiro's HSBC Arena on Aug. 27

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For the first time in nearly 13 years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is headed to Brazil.

Today during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro, UFC officials and a host of Brazilian fighters announced the organization's 2011 return to the city.

Following weeks of rumors about the show, UFC president Dana White today confirmed the organization will host a "major" pay-per-view card on Aug. 27 at the 18,000-seat HSBC Arena.

Joining White in making the announcement were UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, Rio mayor Eduardo Paes, UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie, and current UFC fighters Anderson Silva, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Jose Aldo and Vitor Belfort.

Officials haven't announced any specific fights for the event, and it's too soon to know how it'll be numbered. But White promises it'll be a major event with some of the organization's top fighters, including a lineup that could be populated primarily by Brazilian-born fighters.

The UFC's first and only event in the South American country took place in October 1998. The show, "UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil" (also known as UFC 17.5), took place at Ginasio da Portuguesa in Sao Paulo. Middleweight champ Frank Shamrock defended his belt with a submission win over John Lober in the headliner, and Pat Miletich scored a split-decision win over Mikey Burnett to become the organization's first lightweight champ. (The title later became the welterweight championship.)

Since the UFC's current ownership group, Zuffa LLC, purchased the organization in early 2001, White often has been asked about the possibility of a return to Brazil. Over the years, the answers have ranged from possible to likely. But in the past year, with the country's economy booming and a continued influx of Brazilian fighters to the UFC's roster, White and other executives made the possibility of a return to Brazil sound like a foregone conclusion.

Now with an event officially on the books, the organization will look to build a foundation in the country. That could mean return trips to Brazil, which hosts the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, in the future.

3 Brazil Topic merge?

This is a nice expansion. So many great fighters come out of Brazil. One match that would be epic to see happen again there would be Wand vs Belfort. Best case scenario is Wand beats Sonnen after TUF and Belfort beats Anderson setting up a rematch from 98 between these rivals who still talk the trash to each other.

Very nice what if GDP, but a lot of things have to go right for that to happen

Dana & Lorenzo say they will have another surprise location for an event later this year

Japan? yeah right! lol

Switzerland.

How I would match it all up in my perfect world

UFC 136: Rio Nov 8th, 2011

Main Event

HW Campionship - Cain Velasquez vs Junior dos Santos

Co-main Event

MW Championship - Anderson Silva vs Yushin Okami

Coco-main event

BW Championship - Jose Aldo vs Michihiro Omigawa

Swing Bout

Wanderlei Silva vs Vitor Belfort

Opening Bout

Lyoto Machida vs Rashad Evans 2

TV Prelim 1

Royce Gracie vs Damien Maia

TV Prelim 2

Renzo Gracie vs Paulo Thiago

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/3/10/2041649/royce-gracies-profile-is-now-included-among-the-ufc-sites
Royce Gracie's profile is now included among the UFC site's middleweight
fighters section. Is this a sign that the Hall of Famer will be
competing when the UFC returns to Brazil?