GLENDALE, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena made history on Saturday, Sept. 12, when NOCHE UFC shattered the venue’s all-time single day gross record and claimed UFC’s highest domestic fight night gate, with ticket sales of $4,436,470. The UFC’s Mexican Independence Day celebration surpassed the previous all-time benchmark set by Drake on Sept. 5, 2023 — making NOCHE UFC the first single-day event to claim the top spot.

NOCHE UFC also set a new record for premium sales, marking the highest-grossing premium sales in the venue’s history. The milestone was locked in ahead of the event, underscoring extraordinary demand for premium experiences at the venue. With more than 16,928 guests in attendance NOCHE UFC now ranks as both the highest-grossing event and the highest-grossing sporting event in Desert Diamond Arena history.

“NOCHE UFC was a defining night for Desert Diamond Arena and the city of Glendale,” said Nick Byer, general manager of Desert Diamond Arena for Legends Global. “This historic result speaks to the passion of UFC fans, the strength of this market and the exceptional work of everyone who brought the event to life. It was a landmark night for our arena, our partners and the city of Glendale.”

The card, which was stacked with Mexican and Latin American talent, was headlined by Jean Silva and Jose Delgado, which ended in favor of Silva with a submission via rear-naked choke at 2:57 of Round 3.

NOCHE UFC marked UFC’s first event at Desert Diamond Arena and the first of seven high-profile live events in Arizona across UFC, WWE, PBR and Zuffa Boxing over the next three years through TKO’s landmark partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance. The prelims aired at 11 a.m. PT, followed by the main card at 2 p.m. PT, with all bouts streaming live on Paramount+.

“Seeing NOCHE UFC set new benchmarks for UFC and Desert Diamond Arena is a tremendous reflection of the demand for major events in Arizona and the excitement surrounding our partnership with TKO,” said Jay Parry, President and CEO of the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance. “Arizona continues to show that fans will turn out for world-class events, and this record-setting night is a strong start to the incredible lineup still ahead.”

The TKO partnership continues in February 2027 with WWE Royal Rumble at State Farm Stadium before returning to Desert Diamond Arena in May 2027 for the PBR World Finals: Championship.

About Desert Diamond Arena

Desert Diamond Arena, a Legends Global-managed venue, is a state-of-the-art, multipurpose sports and entertainment facility situated on 13.5 acres in the city of Glendale, Arizona. The arena entertains over one million visitors annually through concerts, family shows and sporting events. The arena anchors the Westgate Entertainment District, Arizona’s Entertainment Destination, located on 223 acres for shopping, dining, entertainment and commercial offices.

About Legends Global

Legends Global is the premier partner to the world’s greatest live events, venues, and brands. We deliver a fully integrated solution of premium services, including feasibility & consulting, owner’s rep, sales, partnerships, venue management, hospitality, merchandise, and content & booking. Through our white-label approach, we keep our partners front and center while leveraging the power of our global network: over 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually. To learn more, visit us at LegendsGlobal.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About UFC®

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 259 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

About the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance (the Alliance)

The Arizona Sports & Events Alliance is the state’s lead organization dedicated to attracting, planning and hosting major events for Arizona. As Arizona’s front door for world-class sports, entertainment and commercial events, the Alliance unites civic, business, tourism, Native American and sports leaders with governing bodies to deliver exceptional experiences, fuel economic growth and elevate Arizona’s global profile. For more information, visit AZSportsAlliance.com, or follow @AZSportsAlliance on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn