Dana White talks international UFC schedule; first Spain event planned for 2025

As the UFC continues to expand its international reach, Dana White confirmed the mixed martial arts promotion is planning on holding its first event in Spain in 2025.

The UFC president said Thursday at the UFC 308 pre-fight press conference in Abu Dhabi the organization has narrowed down its options to two cities as they look to finalize a date and location.

“We’re talking to Madrid and Barcelona,” White said at the press conference that also featured star 145-pounder Ilia Topuria.

The current featherweight champion, who headlines this weekend’s event against Max Holloway, is one of three active Spanish fighters currently on the UFC roster. Topuria was born in Germany to Georgian parents and spent most of his formative years in his native Georgia before moving to Spain as a teenager. 

Earlier this year, after becoming UFC champion, Topuria met with the Spanish Prime Minister who told him he’d be granted Spanish citizenship. Topuria was also a special guest and received a rousing ovation when he was invited to perform a ceremonial kick prior to a Real Madrid game.

Topuria made it known he’d prefer Madrid over Barcelona.

White explained the main delay in the UFC hosting a card in Spain so far has been is the lack of available venues.

The organization has held events in eight different countries in 2024, including its first event in Saudi Arabia, and that will grow to nine countries by the end of the year when the UFC returns to China in November.

White was also asked about the UFC holding future events in South Africa and Russia. He said the plan is to debut in South Africa in 2025 but he did not confirm any possible dates for the organization’s return to Russia. The UFC debuted in Russia in 2018 and held two events there in 2019 but has not returned since.