UFC heads to Sweden in October, Turkey in November
LONDON – The UFC’s busy 2014 has a couple more dates and locations added to it.
After the announcements earlier today of shows in Germany in May and Ireland in July, the UFC will head to Sweden in October and Turkey in November.
A source with knowledge of the dates and locations confirmed them to MMAjunkie. The source asked to remain anonymous because he was not yet authorized to speak publicly on the new events. The news was first reported, however, by Fighters Only, citing Garry Cook, the UFC’s executive vice president and managing director of UFC Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Cook revealed the dates and locations just two days ahead of the UFC’s first of six EMEA region cards planned for the year. UFC Fight Night 37 takes place Saturday in London. Next month, the promotion returns to Abu Dhabi on April 11.
Earlier today, a May 31 show in Berlin was announced – for the same day as one in Brazil – as was an event in Dublin on July 19.
The six-event EMEA year will wrap up in Stockholm on Oct. 4 and Istanbul on Nov. 22.
The UFC has been to Stockholm twice before. It’s the home of Alexander Gustafsson, who headlines Saturday’s card in London against Jimi Manuwa. A win is expected to get Gustafsson another title shot after a close loss to light heavyweight champion Jon Jones this past September.
In addition, Dublin has played host to one UFC show, as Abu Dhabi.
But it will be breaching Turkey for the first time when it visits Istanbul. Presently, the UFC has one Turkish fighter on the roster – flyweight Alptekin Ozkilic, who is 1-1 for the promotion and is booked to fight Dustin Ortiz on the show in Abu Dhabi. While Germany has hosted two shows, neither have been in the historic city of Berlin.
