Bisping

By FCF Staff

The UFC could be returning to Manchester for the first time since 2009 in the coming months, which would mark the second card to be hosted in the United Kingdom this year.

UFC President Dana White reportedly told MMA Junkie.com that the promotion plans to hold an event in Manchester sometime before the year is up. The decision comes not long after the UFC announced that is has signed a new broadcasting deal with U.K. broadcaster BT Sports.

UFC on FUEL 7 was held in London, England, this past February. In the headliner, interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao submitted Michael McDonald with a fourth round, arm-triangle-choke.

The last time the promotion held an event in Manchester, however, was UFC 105 in November, 2009. The card featured Randy Couture scoring a decision win over Brandon Vera in the main event.

The first event in Manchester took place in April, 2007, UFC 70, and saw Gabriel Gonzaga KO Mirko “Cro Cop”.