Casino resort Galaxy Macau, operated by Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd, is set to host three “UFC Fight Night” mixed martial arts events at its Galaxy Arena between 2026 and 2029. This follows the signing of a four-year multi-event strategic partnership agreement between Galaxy Entertainment and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
The signing was announced on Thursday in a joint press release.
As part of the agreement, Galaxy Macau will also host the opening round of UFC’s “Road to UFC” tournament in 2026. It is described as “a talent-development series that provides elite emerging fighters from Asia-Pacific with a pathway to compete in the UFC.” The competition follows a win-to-advance format across multiple weight classes, with winners earning UFC contracts.
Each “UFC Fight Night” in Macau from 2026 “will be complemented by a week-long programme of activities, including fan meet-and-greets and appearances by star fighters, creating a festival-like atmosphere both inside and outside the arena,” the release added.
The document quoted Kevin Kelley (pictured, left), chief operating officer – Macau, of Galaxy Entertainment, as saying: “This partnership reflects our ongoing support for the Macau government’s vision to integrate tourism and sports.”
UFC president and chief executive Dana White (pictured, right) was also quoted: “This new partnership with Galaxy Macau couldn’t come at a better time. It’s great for fight fans in China and massive for the sport.”
In 2024, Galaxy Macau welcomed the UFC back to the city for the first time in a decade with a “sold-out” UFC Fight Night, noted the release. “The event drew an audience of 12,000, underscoring the popularity of UFC and its power to attract a global live audience,” it stated.
Galaxy Arena is a 16,000-seat, multipurpose venue within the Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) at the Galaxy Macau resort. The GICC and the adjacent Andaz Macau hotel are part of Galaxy Macau’s Phase 3.
The UFC is part of Las Vegas, Nevada-based TKO Group Holdings Inc, a U.S.-listed sports entertainment promoter. According to the company, the UFC as a sports organisation has more than 700 million fans and approximately 318 million social media followers worldwide.
The UFC says it produces “more than 40” live fight events annually around the world while “distributing programming to more than 950 million broadcast and digital households across more than 210 countries and territories”.
Two previous UFC events in Macau – a UFC Fight Night in 2012 and another in 2014 – were staged at what is now the Venetian Arena within the Venetian Macao, a Cotai casino property operated by Sands China Ltd.
