MMA in the 216: The Case for Cleveland to be Shortlisted for Potential Host City

Cleveland’s Fortunes Finally Change in 2016

Then, in 2016, thanks to LeBron James, in his second season of his second stint with the Cavaliers, making a critical block of a shot in Game 7 of the NBA Finals vs. the Golden State Warriors, half of a century of futility was gone in an instant. The Cavs brought a title to the 216 at long last.

This set off a pretty phenomenal summer for the city, complete with the UFC touching down in the North Coast for UFC 203, a card capped by the now-retired Stipe Miocic (20-5 MMA) defending the UFC Heavyweight Championship in front of his hometown crowd.

It’s been close to a decade since that card. Aside from a Fight Night card in Columbus in March of 2022, the UFC hasn’t been back in Ohio since.

A lot has happened in the intervening years, including Donald Trump, a favorite of many of the UFC’s active roster, being elected President of the United States on two nonconsecutive occasions, including in 2016, when the Republican National Convention was held in Cleveland.

It’s High Time for the UFC to Return to the 216 Area Code

Back in October of 2023, this Website outlined a list of arenas where the UFC should hold a card, including Rocket Arena in Cleveland. With the powers that be from the UFC beginning to plan out the 2026 schedule of events, now is the time to consider a trip back to Cleveland 10 years in the making. Simply put, it’s been way too long to not put a show inside Rocket Arena downtown.

Cleveland is a city that’s easy to sell to the UFC’s principle demographic. According to recent figures, nearly 23 percent of the metropolitan’s total population were between 15 and 29 years of age.

As of 2025, the city’s population stands at 365,379 people, good enough to ensure the population increased for the second year in succession. With the city on the rise in that category, a UFC event would be the perfect way to showcase Cleveland to the world.

Rocket Arena’s Makeover

Since it last hosted a UFC show in 2016, the venue originally known as Gund Arena has undergone some changes. During 2019, Rocket Arena completed a series of renovations totaling $185 million.

Since the makeover was complete, Cleveland’s Rocket Arena has served as the host city for the NCAA’s Division I Women’s Final Four, with the national championship game tipping off just 24 hours before a total solar eclipse brought the city together in 2024.

More recently, the venue held court for a broadcast of WWE Friday Night SmackDown! on USA Network. That telecast sold out its allotment of tickets. With WWE and the UFC now one and the same under TKO, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them comparing notes on venues.

UFC and Cleveland Would be Match Made in Heaven

Both the UFC and the city of Cleveland are on a roll right now. On Aug. 11, the UFC and Paramount came to terms on a seven-year media rights deal valued at $1.1 billion per calendar year from 2026 to 2032.

Cleveland, as previously mentioned, has seen its population rise in each of the past two years. Given that it’s been close to 10 years between dates in the 216 area code, the time has come to strike while the iron’s hot for both parties.

The promotion could announce the booking of a date for the North Coast tomorrow morning at dawn and the interest would be high. Northeast Ohio is starving for UFC action.

Here’s hoping that the hunger is satiated soon.