UFC Returns to Dallas on Jan. 16 to Kick Off Its 2027 Schedule

The UFC is going back to Texas. The promotion confirmed during UFC 333 on Saturday that it'll run a Fight Night card at Dallas' American Airlines Center on Jan. 16, 2027. No fights are booked yet, but the date itself carries weight — this will be the first UFC event of the entire 2027 calendar.

That scheduling matters. The promotion has leaned into a holiday break in recent years, going dark from roughly mid-December to mid-January. Dallas ends it. Mark the AAC as the spot where the fighting year officially restarts.

This is the seventh time the UFC has set up shop in Dallas, and every single one of those cards has happened inside the American Airlines Center. The arena has become the company's default Texas home base rather than a one-off stop.

The Last Time Out

The most recent Dallas trip was a big one: UFC 277 on July 30, 2022. That pay-per-view was headlined by a women's bantamweight title rematch between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña, with Nunes taking the belt back via unanimous decision. Nunes, who sits at 23-5 (13 KO, 4 SUB), is still active and has a bout against Kayla Harrison lined up for UFC 334.

The co-main that night delivered too. Brandon Moreno stopped Kai Kara-France by third-round TKO to claim interim flyweight gold. Moreno, now 24-10-2 with 11 of his wins coming by submission, currently ranks #9 at 125 pounds and is scheduled to face Charles Johnson at UFC 335.

What Comes Next

For now the card is a blank slate, which is standard this far out. But a January Dallas date is prime real estate for building a matchup fans will travel for, and the UFC rarely leaves a Texas headliner to chance. Expect names to start filling in over the coming weeks.

Keep an eye on the booking announcements — a Fight Night opener for a fresh year tends to get a main event with momentum behind it. The venue's locked, the date's locked. The fights are the only thing left.