UFC to Open Performance Institute in Mexico in Late 2023

The @UFC will open a new Performance Institute in Mexico to develop and support MMA athletes from Latin America.

Get all the details here ⤵️

— UFC News (@UFCNews) February 7, 2023

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to open a third Performance Institute in Mexico City in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced the news on Tuesday. The 32,000 square foot facility will help to develop fighters from Mexico and other Latin American countries. The UFC currently has Performance Institutes in Las Vegas and Shangai. The Las Vegas version opened in 2017 and is primarily used by current UFC athletes for training, while the Chinese facility opened in 2019 and serves as a developmental hub for athletes in the region.

The UFC Performance Institute Mexico will be more like the latter, “aiming to rapidly accelerate the skill level and UFC-readiness of mixed martial artists in the region.” A full coaching staff will provide sport-specific training and fighters will have opportunties to showcase their skills at various talent evaluation events, potentially serving as a springboard to a career in MMA.

According to a release, there are more than 150 athletes from Latin American countries on the UFC’s active roster. Sixty-six of those hail from Spanish-speaking countries — including 28 from Mexico. Notables include current UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, interim featherweight title challenger Yair Rodriguez, women’s flyweight contender Alexa Grasso and female bantamweight contender Irene Aldana.

"Some of the greatest athletes in combat sports history have come from Mexico," UFC president Dana White said in a statement. "Our teams at the PI are the best in the world at what they do, and we know that by making the resources and training available in the country, Mexico can become one of the greatest sources of MMA talent in the world. This is a massive opportunity for the sport of MMA and for athletes throughout Latin America."