The UFC have announced plans to host events in both Holland and Croatia during 2016 as they continue to expand their presence in the European market.
Croatia will be first to see the Octagon with UFC Fight Night 85 set to take place in Zagreb on April 10th. The country has ties to a number of well known fighters over the years, perhaps most famously the recently retired Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic though current UFC heavyweight star Stipe Miocic was born in the U.S, but has Croatian parents, as does hall-of-famer Pat Miletich who was known in his day as ‘The Croatian Sensation’.
Following on soon afterwards, the promotion will then move on to Rotterdam in Holland for UFC Fight Night 86 on May 8th. With a strong background in kickboxing, Holland has always been known as a hot-spot for fighters, including current UFC heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Stefan Struve, while the recently inducted Hall-Of-Famer Bas Rutten also hails from the Netherlands.
“It is truly a testimony to the growth of the UFC brand to be breaking into two new markets in Europe in the first half of 2016,” UFC EMEA General Manager and Vice President James Elliott said in a press release to announce these two new international events. “The fans have been demanding local live events, and we will not disappoint with two compelling shows.”
No fights have so far been made official for either show, but both events will air on FOX Sports 1.
