The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to the city where it started when UFC 135 stages a light heavyweight title bout at Pepsi Center on Sept. 24, organizers confirmed. The main event will feature Quinton “Rampage” Jackson versus Jon Jones for the championship.
It will be the first top-draw UFC fight in Denver since 1994. UFC 1 staged at the old McNichols Sports Arena on Nov. 12, 1993. And UFC 2 played out the following year at Mammoth Gardens (now the Fillmore Auditorium).
The UFC has since gone on to become the largest mixed-martial arts promotion company in the world.
Jones (13-1, eight knockouts), the current light heavyweight champ, will put his title on the line against the veteran Jackson (32-8, 14 KOs).
Also on the card, which is still being finalized, will be a welterweight bout between Matt Hughes (45-8) and Diego Sanchez (25-4).
Tickets likely will go on sale July 22 at 10 a.m. Members of the UFC’s Fight Club can get tickets in a presale July 20. Ticket prices have not yet been announced.
A news conference is scheduled for Tuesday in Denver, where Jackson will attend. Jackson is also known as an actor who appeared as B.A. Baracus in the “A-Team” movie released last year.
UFC 133 updated
UFC president Dana White also today announced that former light heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz will fight Rashad Evans in the main event at UFC 133. Ortiz replaces the injured Phil Davis in the Aug. 6 bout in Philadelphia.
