The UFC announced its return to Charlotte with a May 13 event at Spectrum Center, featuring a light heavyweight bout between Anthony Smith and Johnny Walker.
After more than five years, the UFC returns to Charlotte. The organization announced on Thursday that its May 13 event will take place at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., with a previously reported light heavyweight bout between Anthony Smith and Johnny Walker expected to headline the event. This marks the UFC’s first event in Charlotte since January 27, 2018, when a rematch between Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Derek Brunson headlined a FOX card.
Souza defeated Brunson by first-round knockout, and also on that card, current bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen made his UFC debut with a second-round TKO of Austin Arnett. The UFC’s most recent trip to North Carolina took place in Raleigh on January 25, 2020, when Curtis Blaydes defeated former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos by second-round TKO.
Several other bouts have been reported to be taking place at UFC Charlotte, including Matt Brown vs. Court McGee, Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Jailton Almeida, Mackenzie Dern vs. Angela Hill, and Daniel Rodriguez vs. Ian Machado Garry. The updated UFC Charlotte lineup has been announced, though the bout order is still to be determined.