The UFC returns to Brazil on May 14, and the promotion is working on the possibility of holding 15 bouts on the UFC 198 pay-per-view card.
Headlined by heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum against Stipe Miocic, UFC 198 takes place at the Atletico Paranaense Stadium in Curitiba, and UFC general manager of Brazil Giovani Decker told Na Grade do MMA that six more match-ups could be added to the event.
"We’re trying to make it bigger, 15 fights, and it’s a bit complicated," Decker said, explaining that the Nevada Athletic Commission doesn’t allow more than 13 bouts per card.
Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) chairman Rafael Favetti told MMAFighting.com that CABMMA doesn’t prohibit more than 13 bouts per card, but the UFC should communicate its plans to the commission in advance. According to Favetti, the current plan for UFC 198 is 13 fights.
According to Decker, 42,000 tickets will go on sale on March 30, and the promotion expects to have up to 48,000 fans inside the Atletico Paranaense Stadium on May 14. The UFC’s current attendance record is 16,844 for UFC 153, which featured Anderson Silva vs. Stephan Bonnar in the main event.
"This is going to be most important MMA event in the history of Brazil," Decker said. "I believe this event will catch the attention of many MMA and UFC fans, but also those people that don’t follow the sport. It’s going to be a great event."
The current fight card for UFC 198 is as follows.
Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic
Ronaldo Souza vs. Vitor Belfort
Patrick Cummins vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Matt Brown vs. Demian Maia
Bryan Barberena vs. Warlley Alves
Nate Marquardt vs. Thiago Santos
Leonardo Santos vs. Evan Dunham
Yancy Medeiros vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Kamaru Usman vs. Sergio Moraes
LINK: UFC's Giovani Decker wants 15 fights at UFC 198
