White says no talks have happened on a UFC event in Russia but the promotion probably should have them; Yan pitched Yekaterinburg, and no plan, venue or date exists.
From 4 reports by 4 outletsLatest Yan pitches Yekaterinburg for a UFC event in Russia 4 outlets
What we know
- White said the UFC has not discussed an event in Russia and that it 'probably should'.
- Yan proposed Yekaterinburg, citing a new 12,000-seat arena, and said he knows people willing to organize a show.
Reported, not confirmed
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Makhachev earlier suggested Dinamo stadium in Makhachkala as a venue.
FightTime.ru
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The UFC's three Russian events were Moscow (Sept 2018), St. Petersburg (April 2019) and Moscow (Nov 2019).
Bloody Elbow
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The IOC provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee in July but will not organize events inside Russia.
Yahoo Sports MMA / Uncrowned
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Real American Freestyle staged an event at Arena Mytishchi in late September after a late venue change over sanctions concerns; Fox Nation did not air it in Russia.
Bloody Elbow
The UFC has not talked about returning to Russia, but its CEO thinks it should start. Asked at the UFC 333 press conference in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 24, Dana White said there had been no talks, then added: "We probably should."
The question came from a reporter who asked in Russian, with White's permission, then through a translator. He noted that two UFC champions entering the night were Russian. One of them, Petr Yan, had just defended his bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili.
Yan took up the idea himself and named a city. He said Yekaterinburg, where he lives, has a new 12,000-seat arena with the infrastructure and logistics to host a show. According to FightTime.ru, he said recent events had pushed the idea down the agenda, but he believes it could happen and knows people willing to organize it.
Yan is not the first Russian star to float a venue. According to FightTime.ru, Islam Makhachev earlier suggested Dinamo stadium in Makhachkala. Makhachev, 34, is a welterweight and the biggest name linked to the push, though nothing from either fighter amounts to a booking.
There is history to point to. The UFC has held three events in Russia: Moscow in September 2018, St. Petersburg in April 2019 and Moscow again in November 2019. Russian heavyweight Alexey Oleinik headlined the first two.
Politics are the obstacle. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian athletes and events have been largely isolated by international sport. That has started to shift: the IOC provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee in July, though it still will not organize events inside Russia. Real American Freestyle held a card near Moscow in late September, after a venue change following a report that its original arena plan likely violated sanctions.
What to watch is whether White's answer turns into a real conversation. For now Yan's next fight is the nearer item on the calendar; White has named Song Yadong or Sean O'Malley as options, with nothing booked.
The question came from a reporter who asked in Russian, with White's permission, then through a translator. He noted that two UFC champions entering the night were Russian. One of them, Petr Yan, had just defended his bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili.
Yan took up the idea himself and named a city. He said Yekaterinburg, where he lives, has a new 12,000-seat arena with the infrastructure and logistics to host a show. According to FightTime.ru, he said recent events had pushed the idea down the agenda, but he believes it could happen and knows people willing to organize it.
Yan is not the first Russian star to float a venue. According to FightTime.ru, Islam Makhachev earlier suggested Dinamo stadium in Makhachkala. Makhachev, 34, is a welterweight and the biggest name linked to the push, though nothing from either fighter amounts to a booking.
There is history to point to. The UFC has held three events in Russia: Moscow in September 2018, St. Petersburg in April 2019 and Moscow again in November 2019. Russian heavyweight Alexey Oleinik headlined the first two.
Politics are the obstacle. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian athletes and events have been largely isolated by international sport. That has started to shift: the IOC provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee in July, though it still will not organize events inside Russia. Real American Freestyle held a card near Moscow in late September, after a venue change following a report that its original arena plan likely violated sanctions.
What to watch is whether White's answer turns into a real conversation. For now Yan's next fight is the nearer item on the calendar; White has named Song Yadong or Sean O'Malley as options, with nothing booked.
- Summary
- White says no talks have happened on a UFC event in Russia but the promotion probably should have them; Yan pitched Yekaterinburg, and no plan, venue or date exists.
- Key points (one per line)
- White said there have been no UFC talks about a Russia event, adding 'we probably should'
Petr Yan proposed Yekaterinburg and its new 12,000-seat arena
Nothing is booked: no plan, venue or date
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Yahoo Sports MMA / Uncrowned | https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dana-white-ufc-hasnt-talked-003604611.html
FightTime.ru | https://fighttime.ru/news/item/44502-pobeda-petra-yana-mozhet-vernut-ufc-v-rossiyu.html
Bloody Elbow | https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/10/25/dana-white-to-consider-controversial-return-to-russia-after-petr-yans-ufc-333-win/
Yardbarker MMA | https://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/dana_white_to_consider_controversial_return_to_russia_after_petr_yans_ufc_333_win/s1_17651_44473925
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