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[popsicle]

UFC Fight Night 17, a Feb. 7 event that airs live on Spike TV, will take place at the USF Sun Dome, a 10,000-capacity venue located on the University of Southern Florida campus in Tampa.

Lightweight Joe Lauzon, who fights Hermes Franca on the card, today announced the bout and the event location on The Underground, a popular MMA forum.

Although the event was originally expected to take place in Las Vegas, MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) was told that multiple Southeastern locations were considered before the UFC ultimately settled on Tampa.

As MMAjunkie.com previously reported, other fights expected at the event include "The Ultimate Fighter 6" winner Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer and "TUF 7" winner Amir Sadollah vs. Nick Catone. Rob Emerson is also expected to take on Kurt Pellegrino.

During its 15-year history and over the course of 119 total events, the UFC has hosted just four events in Florida. None have been held in Tampa; three shows have taken place in Hollywood and one in Miami.

However, mixed martial arts has proven to be a draw in Tampa, where the regional powerhouse Xtreme Fighting Championships organization has averaged more than 10,000 fans during its five-show existence – despite the fact the thriving organization has traditionally used local fighters and other prospects. In fact, in his recent "Anatomy of an MMA Show" series he wrote for MMAjunkie.com, XFC President John Prisco said he would love to see the UFC venture to Tampa and further bolster MMA's popularity in the region.

"The better the UFC does, the more popular our sport becomes – which means there's a greater pool of candidates willing to give our product a chance," Prisco wrote. "If the UFC elevates the profile of MMA by coming to Tampa, nobody will be happier than me because they'd be educating hundreds of thousands of Florida sports fans about the greatest, most exciting sport on the planet."

His theory will be put to the test on Feb. 7.

This is probably not that important to most members, but I am hyped and could not help but spread the news. I live in Central Florida and am going to be able to go to my first show! I hope this is succseful and they bring a big ppv to Florida.

UFC makes its Tampa debut with UFC Fight Night 17 on Feb. 7 | MMAjunkie.com

[zzNyQuilzz]

wow im excited as well!!! i live in orlando so its only an hour drive to make a trip out there... please believe i will be there...

[Sakara=Excitement]

Have fun guys. I live in Austin so no go for me and the UFC.

[Dat Dude]

This is awesome news for me. I also live in central Florida, but even better, I'm a student at USF. I never had time to go to an XFC show but I'll definitely be going to the UFC show. I'm so pumped!

[LookitsLance]

Im in south florida, might have to secure a couple tickets.

[Bread]

Excellent news...I live in Clearwater!

[ElvisLaw]

Man, I lived in Clearwater/Holiday for over a decade but moved 4 years ago. My house still hasn't sold there yet though. Perhaps Feb will be a good time to go "check on it". Thanks for the heads up.

[LethalStriker]

I don't live in Florida but I still like whenever UFC breaks into as many new markets as possible. Meanding that it's only inevitable before they eventually start coming out here also.

It gets boring if UFC only holds events in Vegas and California. And those markets get saturated after awhile since the novelty of having events wears out there if they get them too often.

[HeavyHands]

BRING UFC TO PITTSBURGH!!! (lol)