According to Tatame.com, UFC 147 has found a new home. The Brazilian website claims Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil will host the June 23rd fiesta.
Last week, IMX, the company that helps produce UFC events in jiu jitsu country, reportedly pre-reserved Mineirinho Arena (aka Estadio Jornalista Felippe Drummond) from June 18th through June 23rd.
UFC officials visited the arena last Wednesday and returned again yesterday for a second tour.
“They were verifying the facilities and will need an engineer to see if the ceiling can handle a 20 [ton] structure,” said a stadium administrator.
5thRound.com was unable to confirm the report with UFC brass at the time of publication.
The venue’s capacity will depend upon how it is configured. A volleyball event can support roughly 18,000 fans, while last year’s Ozzy Osbourne concert housed approximately 14,000 seats.
The UFC was hoping to pack Engenhão Stadium in Rio de Janeiro for their return to Brazil. However, the United Nations is holding a massive conference in the city that same week and the town just wasn’t big enough for the two of them.
As of right now, a middleweight rematch between icons Wanderlei Silva (Pictured) and Vitor Belfort is scheduled to headline the festivities. Although, it’s likely the current “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” coaches will get bumped in favor of featherweight king Jose Aldo.
The pay-per-view broadcast will air live in North America at 10PM ET/7PM PT.
Here are the athletes expected to appear in the show thus far:
Jose Aldo (UFC Featherweight Champion) vs. TBD
Milton Viera vs. Felipe Arantes
“TUF: Brazil” Featherweight Finals
“TUF: Brazil” Middleweight Finals
Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Russow
Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva
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