by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Oct 15, 2009 at 2:50 pm ET
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is expected to make its Virginia debut in January.
Sources close to the event have told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) UFC Fight Night 20, which would air on Spike TV, is currently slotted for Monday, Jan. 11.
However, the UFC has made no formal announcement, and a representative from Virginia's Professional Boxing, Martial Arts and Wrestling Program said no date is official.
Additionally, while the cable station has begun preparations for the first quarter of 2010, including tryouts for "The Ultimate Fighter 11" and the show's April 2010 debut, Spike TV Vice President of Communications David Schwarz said nothing is official.
"We have nothing to announce yet for 2010," he said.
The UFC would enter a new state with the upcoming event. The UFC has never ventured to Virginia, though UFC president Dana White has said in the past that the state (especially near the Washington D.C. area) could be a site for future expansion. Additionally, UFC Vice President of Talent Relations Joe Silva currently lives in Virginia and scouts many of the area's shows.
At least one site believed to be under consideration for UFC Fight Night 20 is the 11,000-seat Patriot Center on the George Mason University campus in Fairfax.
UFC Fight Night events are traditionally held on Wednesdays or Saturdays, though the first of 2010 will apparently take place on a rare Monday.
According to mixedmartialarts.com, a bout between UFC newcomers Rory MacDonald (9-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Mike "Joker" Guymon (11-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is un-signed but in the works for the upcoming show.
For the latest on UFC Fight Night 20 and other future events, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(UPDATED: At 3:10 p.m. ET to include info about the possibility of the Patriot Center as a host site.)
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