“The facility that is going to be constructed at Ferrari World on Yas Island going to be built just for this event,” said Fertitta. “It is going to be incredible. Out partners Flash are constructing the whole thing like they have done for all the concerts and other events they have put on. Flash already have a reputation in the region for putting on the best events in the Middle East, and the plans they showed me for the facility were fantastic.

This is the first arena we’ve ever gone to which has been designed specifically to host a UFC event. There won’t be a bad sightline from any seat. It will be something to see and a great occasion to be part of. We’ve never gone outside before but we are excited to do this.”

UFC 112, scheduled for April 10, features middleweight champ Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort in the main event, and lightweight champ BJ Penn vs. Frankie Edgar as the co-headliner. The card also features Matt Hughes vs. Renzo Gracie.

This marks the first UFC event in an open-air arena.

“This is one of the biggest and most significant nights in the history of the UFC,” stated UFC President Dana White. “UFC 112 is our first ever outdoor event and it is taking place in the hometown of our brand new partners, Flash Entertainment. We are very happy we could deliver what fans around the world will recognize as a stacked card featuring the sport’s biggest stars.”

Two title fights will headline the card. In the main event, middleweight champ Anderson Silva puts belt and undefeated 9-0 UFC record on the line against the rejuvenated Vitor Belfort, and in the co-main event, lightweight champ BJ Penn takes on Frankie Edgar.

Also on the card is a battle of MMA legends between Matt Hughes and Renzo Gracie.

Nogueira informed Tatame on Tuesday of the fight. “It’s almost set, we’re negotiating, but it’s not 100% yet,” he said. “It’s not confirmed by the UFC yet.”

Griffin (17-6), a former UFC light heavyweight champion and TUF 1 winner, is coming off a victory over Tito Ortiz at UFC 106 in November. Prior to the win, he had suffered back-to-back losses to Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva.

Nogueira (18-3), a teammate of Silva, also fought at UFC 106, knocking out Luis Cane in under two minutes of the very first round. He is currently on an impressive six-fight winning streak.

UFC 113 is scheduled for May 8 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The event features a light heavyweight title headliner between champ Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, along with Josh Koscheck vs. Paul Daley in a co-headliner.

“I think the important thing is to really create the biggest fights possible,” said Soares. “I think Anderson’s got a good two, three years probably. He’s got a good eight or nine fights probably left in him for sure, maybe more. He doesn’t take too much damage, and the fact that he doesn’t take damage in the fights, it’s really more or less the training.

The fans are going to dictate who they want to see. Of course the UFC makes those decisions, but with the talent pool the UFC has, there’s not going to be a lack of big fights for Anderson or for any of our fighters.”

There is no doubt that two of the biggest fights that fans have been waiting for are Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre, and Silva vs. Lyoto Machida. However, first things first, Silva will be facing arguably his toughest test to date when he takes on Vitor Belfort at UFC 112 on April 10 in Abu Dhabi.

“Vitor trained and with a good head is almost unbeatable,” said Filho. “He punches very well, he’s explosive and he’s proving it. I know him since he was a kid on Carlson’s time. He’s talented and dangerous. He’s complete, with a good Wrestling, boxing, good Jiu-Jitsu to MMA… with a good mind I believe on him on any category, against anyone. Anderson is amazing, I don’t even have what to say about him, but, honestly, I think if they are equal, Vitor takes it. Vitor is very dangerous, very fast. I think he beats not only Anderson, but anyone. With his kids coming, he’s more focused. I look at him and I see that he has that tiger eye again.”

Silva and Belfort are scheduled to fight at UFC 112 on April 10 in Abu Dhabi.

He said, “You never know, anything is possible. I don’t want to say the Pride name is dead. It’s still a strong powerful brand. But the reality is that us running Pride in Japan, that completely fell apart.”

Pride FC was founded October 1997 in Japan. The organization was home to some of the world’s top fighters, including Fedor Emelianenko, Wanderlei Silva, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Mirko Cro Cop, and Anderson Silva. After running into financial problems, the promotion was sold in March 2007 to Zuffa, LLC, parent entity of the UFC.

Since the purchase, no Pride events have been held. Many of the fighters were brought into the UFC, while others fledged to different promotions. Most notably, Emelianenko, arguably the top pound-for-pound fighter, opted not to sign with the organization.

With the large library of Pride fights under their ownership, the UFC created a Best of Pride FC series, which recently began airing on Spike TV.

He said:

“There is only one champion, so I believe this fight must happen. It’s a professional issue, and I believe they can fight. Deep down, everyone wants to know who is strongest. Friendship is friendship, but they’re not amateurs. The eventual winner isn’t my concern. What matters to me is how they win, and their strategy. This would be a mental battle.”

Lyoto is expected to take on Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in a rematch at UFC 113 on May 1, and Silva is likely facing Vitor Belfort at UFC 112 on April 12. If both Machida and Silva emerge victorious in their fights, maybe the statements from Yoshizo will convince them to battle one another in the super fight that everyone has been hoping for.