Brazil has played host to more Ultimate Fighting Championship events than any other nation on the planet outside the United States. Thirteen cities have hosted a combined 39 shows, with Rio de Janeiro leading the way and now positioned to welcome the company’s fifth pay-per-view of 2024 in May.
I covered most of the 39 events, and without a doubt, the first of them was one of the most memorable. Held on Oct. 16, 1998 at the Portuguesa Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, UFC 17.5 was marked by two devastating knockouts (Vitor Belfort vs.