Business in Brazil continues to boom for the UFC, according to executive Marshall Zelaznik.
Zelaznik said today that the promotion expects the country to pass MMA-crazed Canada as its No. 2 revenue generator behind the U.S.
A stadium show between the third and fourth quarter of next year is planned to capitalize on the surge in interest.
"We're confident that if we held an event in any stadium in Brazil, it would be a massive success," Zelaznik said.
Logistical problems and the "Rio+20" U.N. conference forced the UFC to abandon a stadium show at Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year. The event, UFC 147, was to be headlined by Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II before the title fight was moved to UFC 148 in Las Vegas. Wanderlei Silva vs. Rich Franklin II ultimately headlined UFC 147 at the smaller 17,000-seat Estadio Jornalista Felipe Drumond stadium.
For the UFC's next attempt at a mega-event, Zelaznik anticipated a far easier time. He mentioned as possibilities: Estadio Palestra Italia, the Sao Paulo home of Brazilian soccer club Palmeiras, and Porto Algre's Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda, better known as Estadio Beira-Rio.
The UFC exec even admitted the promotion would some day like to hold an event at Rio de Janeiro's 96,000-seat Estadio do Maracana, a massive open-air building officially known as Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho.
"Every one of the cities in Brazil are trying to get ahold of us to have meetings to bring an event," he said.
The promotion's optimism in filling seats undoubtedly is fueled by its success on television. Zelaznik said UFC events aired on Brazilian network Rede Globo have drawn "staggering numbers" while drawing up to 60 percent of the country's television audience, or between 30 million and 40 million viewers.
Meanwhile, Zelaznik said UFC 153, which takes place Saturday at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, is an effective sellout with 200 seats unsold. It is the UFC's third trip to the stadium following UFC 147, which fell short of sellout status.
Source: UFC plans Brazilian stadium show in late 2013, expects Brazil to pass Canada