Representative Jeff Weninger used taxpayer dollars to introduced a resolution welcoming the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to Arizona. UFC Fight Night will be at Talking Stick Resort Arena today.
In his taxpayer funded press release Weninger claimed that the UFC has grown into a household name since its founding in 1993, and “continues to be the leading mixed martial arts promoter nationwide.”
He might be right; UFC Pay-Per-View fights attract an average of over 1 million viewers, with some fights nearing 2 million in total viewership.
“While I’m more comfortable in the middle of a legislative fight, UFC Fight Night in Phoenix is a great opportunity to raise Arizona’s profile among UFC fans,” said Weninger in the press release.
Corporation Commission Chairman Tom Forese also welcomed the UFC and its fans to Arizona in the press release. “UFC Fight Night in Phoenix is just another example of Arizona working together with businesses to benefit the state’s economy and attract new visitors,” said Forese.
The Phoenix event will take place today Sunday, January 15 and will be headlined by “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” featherweight winner Yair Rodriguez and UFC Hall-of-Famer BJ Penn.