UFC: The Top 10 Venues to Never Host an Event

The UFC is the fastest-growing organization of the fastest-growing sport in the world, mixed martial arts.

In the past two years, venues such as the American Airlines Center, the TD Garden (formerly the Boston Garden), Conseco Fieldhouse, the Palace of Auburn Hills and Rogers Centre have all hosted their their UFC Events. 

With the UFC recently signing a network deal with Fox, it continues to grow, and is working to be sanctioned in all 50 states, as they look to expand into international markets.

This list will cover the 10 most famous venues who have never hosted a UFC event that would make for an awesome experience.

No. 10: Ohio Stadium

Several venues on this list will be here more for their size more than anything else. This is the first one.

Built in 1922, the Horseshoe, which is home to half of the greatest rivalries in college football, reached a single-game attendance record of over 106,000 people in October of 2009. That record was set during a college football game, which requires every inch of the field to be blocked off.

For a UFC event, more than half the field can be filled with seats. All that would need to be blocked off would be an octagon and a place for the fighters to enter the stadium, which would take up half the field, at the most. There would be room for a couple thousand extra seats if it's done right.

Some of the biggest non-Vegas American attendance numbers have been in Ohio: UFC 82 had 16,431 people in attendance and UFC 96 had 17,033 in attendance. A show at Ohio Stadium would deem those numbers worthless.

Current fighters from Ohio that would make great additions to a fight card are Rich Franklin, Forrest Griffin, Matt Brown and Mac Danzig.

No. 9: Michigan Stadium

Home to the other half of college football's greatest rivalry, the Big House, comes in at No. 9.

A college football seating capacity of 109,901 as of 2009, like Ohio Stadium, could be increased a few thousand with extra seating on the field for a UFC event.

UFC 123 drew a crowd of 16,404 to the Palace of Auburn Hills. An event here would blow that number away.

One current fighter from Michigan that would make a great addition to a fight card is Rashad Evans (wrestled at Michigan State).

No. 8: Lambeau Field

Coming in at No. 8 is Lambeau Field, the legendary field of the Green Bay Packers.

This stadium makes the list given the history of what has happened inside of it since it opened over 50 years ago.

This is as high as the stadium could be, however, given the fact that only five months during the year is the average temperature in Green Bay above 60 degrees.

Football players may like the cold, but I don't think UFC fighters will. 

Anthony Pettis and Ben Rothwell are current fighters from Wisconsin that would make great additions to a fight card.

No. 7: Wembley Stadium

While every website might say the "new" Wembley Stadium was completed in 2007 with a capacity of up to 90,000, this stadium is on here for the history of the "old" Wembley Stadium that stood from 1923-2007.

The old stadium hosted events such as the 1948 Summer Olympics, Evel Knieval's final daredevil stunt before his retirement and WWF (now WWE's) SummerSlam pay-per-view event in August of 1992, which drew over 80,000 people.

The UFC is no stranger to hosting events in the U.K., having UFC 38, UFC 70, UFC 75, UFC 80, UFC 85, UFC 89, UFC 95, UFC 105 and UFC 120 all held there.

Current fighters from England who would make great additions to a fight card are Michael Bisping, Ross Pearson, Dan Hardy and John Hathaway.

No. 6: Louisiana Superdome

Just 36 years after it was opened, this now-historic landmark (due to the events of Hurricane Katrina) has hosted six Super Bowls, with a seventh scheduled for 2013.

With the UFC making its return to Louisiana for UFC Fight Night—Shields vs. Ellenberger, a large attendance combined with a great night of fights—it should prick up some ears about the possibility of the UFC coming to the 76,468 capacity dome.

Current fighters from Louisiana who would make great additions to a fight card are Melvin Guillard and Pat Barry

No. 5: Fenway Park

One of the country's most recognizable venues, located in the heart of Boston, Fenway Park comes in at No. 5. 

The home to one of baseball's most beloved franchises, the Boston Red Sox, for 99 years, the 37,493 capacity ballpark is a dream location for UFC president Dana White.

Why?

Dana White is from Boston, having started in professional fighting there as a boxing trainer. When MMA was regulated in Massachusetts in November of 2009, White jumped at the opportunity to host an event in his home state, and in August 2010, UFC 118 was attended by 14,168 people at the TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics.

But, White, and Massachusetts, wants more. A bigger, more famous venue, bigger fights, etc. And with Fenway Park, that's exactly what everybody would get.

Current fighters from Massachusetts who would make great additions to a fight card are Kenny Florian and Joe Lauzon

No. 4: Cowboys Stadium

The home of "America's Team", the home of the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, the home of the 2014 men's Final Four, the home of the Cotton Bowl, the homr of Manny Pacquiao- Joshua Clottey, Cowboys Stadium comes in at No. 4.

With a standing-room capacity of 110,000, a retractable roof, and a 2100 inch video screen that hangs at the top of the stadium from one 20 yard line to the other, Cowboys Stadium would make for an amazing place to watch a UFC event.

Even the fans who are sitting up in the nosebleeds would not be left out, as they could just watch the entire night of fights on the world's largest video monitor.

Current fighters from Texas who would make great additions to a fight card are Joseph Benavidez, Leonard Garcia, and Nik Lentz.

No. 3: Yankee Stadium

Once again, the Boston Red Sox fall short to the New York Yankees, even when they aren't actually playing each other.

Much like Wembley Stadium, the "new" Yankee Stadium gets high billing due to the fame of it's predecessor, the "old" Yankee Stadium.

The state of New York is anxious to have MMA regulated, though its recent attempts have failed, resulting in what will likely be an MMA-free 2011, and possibly 2012. Whenever MMA is regulated in New York, this 54,251 capacity ballpark will be one of the most amazing places in the world to watch a fight.

Some current fighters from New York who would make great additions to a fight card are Chris Weidman, Amir Sadollah and Matt Serra 

No. 2: The Rose Bowl

Quick history lesson: What stadium hosts the most famous of all BCS College Football Bowl games, home field for UCLA Bruins' football, held events during the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics and home of the 1994 men's and 1999 Women's World Cup Finals. What is it?

It's the Rose Bowl. With a record attendance of 106,869 and warm California temperatures baking on it year round, the Rose Bowl is an ideal place for almost any sporting event, especially the ever-growing UFC.

Current fighters from California who would make great additions to a fight card are Cain Velasquez, Nick Diaz, and Urijah Faber

No. 1: Madison Square Garden

It's not called "The World's Most Famous Arena" for nothing.

The home of the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers, and home to many of the most amazing concert performances of all time, this needs to be where the first UFC event in New York is held.

The 22,292 capacity arena is the most famous athletic complex in the most famous city in the world. What else could top that? Nothing.

The one fighter from New York who would make a great addition to any fight card is Jon "Bones" Jones