The Fortress of UFC Solitude
How does one capture the splendor and awe that comes with a vicious and yet respectful beatdown? UFC fighters have stepped into many venues before because of their magnitude and location. However, the T-Mobile Arena, on the Las Vegas Strip, has been hosting UFC fights since 2016, where the fighters Amanda Nunes, known as ‘The Lioness,’ and Miesha Tate, nicknamed the ‘Cupcake,’ faced off in the Women’s Bantamweight Division, resulting in Nunes securing a title win. In fact, the arena has gone on to host multiple UFC events since UFC 200 in 2016 and just finished hosting UFC 323 this year! The entertainment group that signed with UFC, who are known as TKO Group Holdings, even signed up with UFC to keep having this 20,000-seat stadium as the official Las Vegas home of UFC until 2030.
The year 2025 closed on some great title fights with Petr Yan securing the Men’s Bantamweight Division title. This fight alone secured 18,603 tickets, almost entirely filling out the 20,000-seat venue. It was no surprise either, as in the past, UFC 313 itself boasted the largest attendance ever at 18,869 tickets sold. This could be seen as the reason why this venue is regarded as the epicenter of UFC events, making the UFC APEX, which is also in Las Vegas, a place where traditional Fight Nights are held. This venue will hold further meaning as well when 2026 makes its debut for such fighters as Paddy Pimblett.
Paddy ‘The Baddy’ will throw down against Justin Gaethje ‘The Highlight’ here at UFC 324. This is no surprise either, as the Men’s Lightweight Division will attract a large audience, particularly because of both fighters’ influence from past fights. One of the biggest draws to this venue is the planning of it being surrounded by premier locations on the Las Vegas Strip. One such location is the MGM casino hotel, where patrons can lose it all or gain spectacular wins like the UFC fighters just around the corner. Overall, it is predicted to be another great year in 2026 for the T-Mobile Arena, where some fighters like Pimblett will make an appearance, and a year that may even see record-breaking sales not seen since UFC 313!
