UFC to bring event to Chicago for first time
Illinois sanctioned MMA in 2007, paving way for UFC to enter key market
Video: MMA from NBC Sports |
UFC 93 preview: Ace vs. Hendo When Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson prepare to square off at UFC 93, longtime MMA fans everywhere will be watching. |
• Click here to email MMA Fight Weekly |
UPCOMING MMA EVENTS |
UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson Jan 17 - Dublin, Ireland Affliction: Day of Reckoning January 24 - Anaheim, Calif. WEC 38: Varner vs. Cerrone January 25 - San Diego, Calif. UFC 94: Penn vs. St. Pierre II January 31 - Las Vegas |
Ask the MMA reporter: Mike Chiappetta |
Got a question? A comment? A tip? General hate mail? Click here to send an email |
The UFC will take its traveling roadshow of pain to Chicago for the first time ever when UFC 90 comes to the Allstate Arena on Oct. 25, UFC President Dana White told the Chicago Sun-Times.
The event will be the first in state, as UFC was waiting for Illinois to sanction the sport before it committed to a show.
Last year, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a law sanctioning the sport, and just last month, the state boxing commission began overseeing and regulating all pro MMA bouts, putting the necessary precautions in position to host the UFC. The law opened up one of the key markets UFC had yet to penetrate.
As of now, two key markets remain in which MMA continues to be unsanctioned: Massachusetts and New York. The UFC is working to educate the state's legislators on the sport, but suffered a recent setback in New York when efforts to get the sport legalized stalled when a key committee failed to advance legislation.
No UFC 90 matches have yet to be announced, but the UFC usually tries to include fighters who come from the general area.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
- Rate Story:
LowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM MMA |
| Add MMA headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links




