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[Cat--Smasher]

Dana White says UFC planning event in Russia 'sooner than you'd think'

This time, it's no April Fool's Day joke.

The UFC may be going to Russia, and according to president Dana White, it could be soon.

Following Saturday's UFC 148 event in Las Vegas, White said the promotion is targeting a trip to Russia, though he did not elaborate on a timeframe for the potential new market.

White joked about how he personally would be received in Russia, given his contentious history with the management team of the nation's most popular MMA product, Fedor Emelianenko. White, of course, attempted to sign the legendary Russian to the UFC several years ago but was unsuccessful.

"I don't know how well I'd do in Russia," White said. "But yeah – we're actually taking an event to Russia very soon. Very soon. Sooner than you'd think."

The news comes on the heels of the UFC's announcement this past week that it will do its first show in Macau on Nov. 10 for UFC on FUEL TV 6. That will be the UFC's first foray into Chinese territory.

Earlier this year, the UFC returned to Japan and has held three events in Brazil since returning to that country. In addition to the show in China, the UFC recently announced plans to break into countries such as India and South Africa, first with television programming and then, eventually, the hope for live shows.

"It's important every time we go into a new market to be successful," White said. "We just went to Japan. We were trying to get into Japan for so long and to do an event there. We finally got it off the ground, and it was a huge success. Now we're going into China, and we're hoping to really introduce that country to the UFC and mixed martial arts."

White said when the UFC breaks into a new market, the effects might not be instant, but eventually it can pay dividends beyond just financial boons for the company.

"I think every time we go into a new country and put on a huge, great event, it starts to spark in the country," White said. "People start training, gyms start opening, and more and more fighters start to come out of those countries."

Dana White says UFC planning event in Russia 'sooner than you'd think' | MMAjunkie.com

[Kimbo> Rampage]

What if they got Fedor for one last run.... Once he gets rid of that Parasite vadummy.

[thefirm0]

[Pasha K]

Oh that is good.
Martial Arts have always been popular in Russia, and MMA is becoming more and more popular now. And despite all the hate towards M-1, they have helped making MMA more popular in Russia.

But UFC needs to hire more Russian fighters then. They have Nurmagomedov, there is another one in the featherweigh division I think, Dennis Siver is russian.
It would be great if they hire Aleks Emelianenko and Kharitonov.
As for Fedor, he is retired, no please for God's sake, no more talking of him in UFC

[JPeezy]

Originally Posted by rampage9712

What if they got Fedor for one last run.... Once he gets rid of that Parasite vadummy.

Obviously the first thing we all think about when he hear the UFC is going to Russia is that they will throw some rubles Fedor's way for a 1 fight deal. Could be the best things for all parties involved. Fedor gets one last big time fight in his homeland and the who Fedor never fought in the UFC thing gets put to bed.

[MMA4EVERRR]

Originally Posted by Pasha K

Oh that is good.
Martial Arts have always been popular in Russia, and MMA is becoming more and more popular now. And despite all the hate towards M-1, they have helped making MMA more popular in Russia.

But UFC needs to hire more Russian fighters then. They have Nurmagomedov, there is another one in the featherweigh division I think, Dennis Siver is russian.
It would be great if they hire Aleks Emelianenko and Kharitonov.
As for Fedor, he is retired, no please for God's sake, no more talking of him in UFC

Aleks and Sergei would be great additions to the UFC HW roster. Unfortunately, Aleks has either visa problems or health concerns preventing him from fighting stateside and Sergei is too into K-1 these days. Perhaps the chance to fight in front of their fellow countrymen might inspire them to sign one fight deal with UFC. Matchups against Mitrione, Browne, Rothwell, Nelson, Gonzaga, Schaub would be great, winnable fights for those guys.

I really like that Khabib guy who fought Tibau. He's got lots of potential and if he rounds out his striking, he can make waves in the LW division.

Mousasi would be a great addition to the card as well, seeing how he had trained with Fedor and his Russian team. A return for AA against the guys I mentioned would be great fight as well.