December 20, 2023 9: 00 pm ET
With its 2023 campaign finished, the UFC turns its attention to the new year.
At a seasonal news conference Thursday at MGM Grand Garden Arena, the promotion announced its schedule for the first three-and-a-half months in a video highlight package.
The list confirmed many of the previously reported events, but it also revealed a handful of locations and venues that were not official prior.
Scroll below to see the UFC’s official early 2024 schedule:
UFC Fight Night 234, UFC Apex – Las Vegas, Jan. 13
The UFC kicks off its 2024 campaign with a five-round rematch between Magomed Anakalaev and Johnny Walker at the UFC Apex. The first meeting took place as three rounds in October and ended in a no contest after an accidental illegal knee by Anakalev. The aftermath of the bout was heated with security involved. Even UFC CEO Dana White entered the cage.
The UFC Fight Night 234 lineup includes:
- Magomed Anakalaev vs. Johnny Walker
- Manel Kape vs. Matheus Nicolau
- Gabriel Benitez vs. Jim Miller
- Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira
- Mario Bautista vs. Ricky Simon
- Brunno Ferreira vs. Phil Hawes
- Andrei Arlovski vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
- Preston Parsons vs. Matthew Semelsberger
- Gaston Bolanos vs. Marcus McGhee
- Farid Basharat vs. Taylor Lapilus
- Jean Silva vs. Westin Wilson
- Denys Bondar vs. Felipe Bunes
- Nikolas Motta vs. Tom Nolan
UFC 297, Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, Jan. 20
The UFC has only been to Canada once since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and it was Vancouver. Back in Toronto for the first time since December 2018, the promotion brings a suddenly-heated middleweight title fight up North. In addition, the vacant women’s bantamweight title will be on the line.
The current UFC 297 lineup includes:
- Champion Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis – for middleweight title
- Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Raquel Pennington – for women’s bantamweight title
- Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev
- Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott
- Dominick Reyes vs. Carlos Ulberg
- Garrett Armfield vs. Brad Katona
- Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana
- Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras
- Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Chris Curtis
- Jimmy Flick vs. Malcolm Gordon
- Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson
- Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson
- Priscila Cachoeira vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
UFC Fight Night 235, UFC Apex – Las Vegas, Feb. 3
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Roman Dolidze (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Jack Hermansson (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
The UFC kicks February with two events headlined by middleweights at the UFC Apex. First, Roman Dolidze and Nassourdine Imavov jostle for contention.
The current UFC Fight Night 235 lineup includes:
- Roman Dolidze vs. Nassourdine Imavov
- Drew Dober vs. Renato Moicano
- Viviane Araujo vs. Natalia Silva
- Charles Radtke vs. Gilbert Urbina
- Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. William Gomis
- Thomas Petersen vs. Jamal Pogues
- Luana Carolina vs. Julija Stoliarenko
- Kiefer Crosbie vs. Themba Gorimbo
- Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Makhmud Muradov
- Blake Bilder vs. Jeong Yeong Lee
- Marquel Mederos vs. Landon Quinones
- Diana Belbita vs. Molly McCann
- Azat Maksum vs. Nate Maness
UFC Fight Night 236, UFC Apex – Las Vegas, Feb. 10
Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Joe Pyfer (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Gerald Meerschaert (red gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
The second leg of the back-to-back UFC Apex event features Joe Pyfer’s first promotional main event as he takes on perennial contender Jack Hermansson.
The current UFC Fight Night 236 lineup includes:
- Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer
- Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brad Tavares
- Armen Petrosyan vs. Rodolfo Vieira
- Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy
- Darrius Flowers vs. Michael Johnson
- Trevin Giles vs. Carlos Prates
- Bruna Brasil vs. Loma Lookboonmee
- Max Griffin vs. Jeremiah Wells
- Hyder Amil vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke
- Daniel Marcos vs. Aori Qileng
- Devin Clark vs. Marcin Prachnio
- Bogdan Guskov vs. Zac Pauga
- Damir Hadzovic vs. Bolaji Oki
- Robert Bryczek vs. Albert Duraev
UFC 298, Honda Center – Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 17
The UFC is back in California for the first time since January 2022. The promotion’s featherweight title will be on the line as Alexander Volkanovski looks to defend vs. Ilia Topuria.
The current UFC 298 lineup includes:
- Champion Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria
- Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
- Amanda Lemos vs. Tatiana Suarez
- Tai Tuivasa vs. Marcin Tybura
- Ikram Aliskerov vs. Anthony Hernandez
- Andrea Lee vs. Miranda Maverick
- Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Justin Tafa
- Brady Hiestand vs. Rinya Nakamura
- Oban Elliott vs. Val Woodburn
- Danny Barlow vs. Yusaku Kinoshita
- Brendson Ribeiro vs. Mingyang Zhang
UFC Fight Night, Arena CDMX – Mexico City, Feb. 24
Jan 21, 2023; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Brandon Moreno (blue gloves) enters the arena before the fight against Deiveson Figueiredo (red gloves) during UFC 283 at Jeunesse Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports
The UFC hasn’t been to Mexico since September 2019, but that’s about to change. The promotion heads south of the border with a UFC Fight Night event likely to feature many of the country’s top-tier fighters. No main event has been officially announced or independently confirmed, though a Brian Ortega vs. Yair Rodriguez rematch has been rumored.
The current UFC Fight Night lineup for Mexico City includes:
- Amir Albazi vs. Brandon Moreno – five-round fight
- Edgar Chairez vs. Daniel Lacerda
- Victor Altamirano vs. Felipe Dos Santos
UFC Fight Night, Kingdom Arena – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 2
Like other promotions have in the world of boxing, the UFC recently inked a deal to bring an event to Saudi Arabia. No main event has been announced yet, but UFC CEO Dana White recently indicated the lineup will be above-average.
The current UFC Fight Night lineup for Saudi Arabia includes:
- Muhammad Mokaev vs. Alex Perez
- Eryk Anders vs. Jamie Pickett
UFC 299, Kaseya Center – Miami, March 9
The UFC hits Miami for the second straight year – and like UFC 287 in 2023 – fight card is deep and dripping with contender fights. In the main event, bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley rematches rival Marlon Vera.
The current UFC 299 lineup includes:
- Champion Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera – for bantamweight title
- Kevin Holland vs. Michael Page
- Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena
- Jailton Almeida vs. Curtis Blaydes
- Ian Machado Garry vs. Geoff Neal
- Song Yadong vs. Petr Yan
- Rafael dos Anjos vs. Mateusz Gamrot
- Maycee Barber vs. Katlyn Chookagian
- Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips
- Lauren Murphy vs. Karine Silva
- Asu Almabaev vs. CJ Vergara
UFC Fight Night, Boardwalk Hall – Atlantic City, N.J., March 30
DALLAS, TEXAS – JULY 29: Dana White attends the UFC 277 ceremonial weigh-in at American Airlines Center on July 29, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The UFC is headed back to New Jersey for the second time in 10 months – only this time it’s Atlantic City, instead of Newark. The previous time the UFC hit Atlantic City was in 2018 for an event headlined by Edson Barboza vs. Kevin Lee.
No fights have surfaced for the event.
UFC 300, T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, April 13
After years of anticipation, one of the most high profile events in UFC history has a date and (unsurprising) location. UFC 300 will be one of the most stacked events in promotion history, according to UFC CEO Dana White.
No fights have surfaced for the event.
UFC TBA, Sphere – Las Vegas, Sep. 14
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: Sphere lights up during the venue’s grand opening on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
UFC CEO Dana White is obsessed with holding an event inside the world-famous Sphere in Las Vegas. The event is expected to serve as the second Noche UFC card, which coincides with Mexican Independence Day weekend. While no further details have been revealed the UFC’s broadcast partner ESPN currently lists the event as a pay-per-view.
No fights have surfaced for the event.
Other confirmed locations (without dates)
May 13, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Fans display a Brazilian flag during a heavyweight bout between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Jailton Almeida during UFC Fight Night at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
- Brazil
- United Kingdom
- Abu Dhabi
- France
- Australia
Unofficial dates
Sep 25, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Valentina Shevchenko pins Lauren Murphy to the cage/ during UFC 266 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Three other events have been revealed independently for upcoming UFC events, as the promotion has requested the following dates from the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC).
- March 16 – UFC Apex – Las Vegas
- March 23 – UFC Apex – Las Vegas
- April 6 – UFC Apex – Las Vegas