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10 cities we want to see the UFC at in 2023

By Alec Arritola

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - MARCH 31: A UFC sign is seen on Copacabana beach to promote the UFC 237: Namajunas Vs. Andrade, on March 31, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UFC 237: Namajunas Vs. Andrade will take place on May 11 at Jeunesse Arena. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - MARCH 31: A UFC sign is seen on Copacabana beach to promote the UFC 237: Namajunas Vs. Andrade, on March 31, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UFC 237: Namajunas Vs. Andrade will take place on May 11 at Jeunesse Arena. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

3. Albuquerque, New Mexico

The UFC only visited the most populous city in New Mexico on June 07, 2014, for UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov. It has been eight years since then, and The Duke City is hungry for more action.

Home of the legendary Jackson Wink MMA Academy, Albuquerque has been the training ground for numerous UFC champions, including Andrei Arlovski, B.J. Penn, Frank Mir, Georges St-Pierre, Holly Holm, Jon Jones, Rashad Evans, and Carlos Condit.

Jackson Wink is known for its influential coaches, Greg Jackson, and Mike Winkeljohn, who founded the gym and have trained numerous successful fighters.

Benson Henderson vs. Rustam Khabilov was the first UFC event in New Mexico. It featured bouts between Diego Sanchez vs. Ross Pearson, John Dodson vs. John Moraga, and Rafael dos Anjos vs. Jason High. Unfortunately, the attendance was a measly 8,775, a far cry from today’s events netting around 15,000 average attendance.

A 2023 event in Albuquerque would likely take place at the University of New Mexico’s The Pit, as it is a larger 15,411-person venue that suits contemporary UFC 2023 crowds and would allow for a proper pay-per-view audience.

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