Is the UFC headed to Georgia?!
After spending a good portion of the previous couple of years working occasions inside the comfy confines of The APEX in Las Vegas, the Final Preventing Championship is able to stretch its legs and hit the highway.
Following Thursday’s Energy Slap 11 card in Riyadh, White was requested about probably bringing the UFC to Georgia in 2025. Whereas White couldn’t provide any specifics, he primarily confirmed that sure, an occasion within the transcontinental nation — not the state — is within the works.
“I imply, I met some guys the opposite day who had been pushing exhausting for me to convey a combat to Georgia,” White mentioned on the post-fight press convention. “And will it make any extra sense than to go to Georgia proper now? No, it actually does. So, the reply to your query is sure.”
Situated on the intersection of Jap Europe and West Asia, Georgia has produced a number of the UFC’s largest stars, together with reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and featherweight king Ilia Topuria, although ‘El Matador’ at the moment calls Spain dwelling.
Different noteworthy names out of Georgia embrace 15-win veteran Giga Chikadze and three-time Efficiency of the Evening winner Roman Dolidze.
‘The Machine’ takes some credit score for MMA’s explosion in Georgia
MMA has exploded within the nation and up to date years courtesy of rising stars like Dvalishvili who has captured the eye of combat followers together with his endless fuel tank contained in the Octagon and his entertaining presence on social media.
“I do know some fighters that began MMA due to me, and now they’re skilled fighters and a few organizations’ champions. This implies I’m previous,” Dvalishvili mentioned with amusing whereas talking with the UFC. “However I’m pleased with this as a result of I used to be a part of the rationale MMA is fashionable in my nation, in my hometown. MMA in Georgia is barely going up, and it’ll solely get higher and higher.
Dvalishvili additionally marveled at how shortly MMA has grow to be a fan-favorite sport in his dwelling nation.
“They know each fighter within the UFC, who fights who, after they combat, they actually know MMA. It’s very, excellent. It’s loopy,” he added.
