UFC returning to Atlantic City The Ultimate fighting championship is set to return to Atlantic City for the first time in seven years with UFC on FX 4: Maynard vs. Guida. Revel Resort and Casino will play host to the fight which FX will be broadcasting for free. Fuel TV and Facebook will broadcast the undercard.

The main fight of the night sees Gray Maynard and Clay Guida go head to head in the cage with the winner possibly earning a shot at the UFC lightweight title.

Earlier in the week a controversy arose when Maynard’s camp filed a complaint with the New Jersy State Athletic Control Board about Guida’s infamous wild hair. They argued that his hair would be a “distraction” and would give the fighter an unfair advantage. The complaint was not issued by Maynard himself but by his support staff. In response Guida has agreed to wear his hair in tight cornrows so as not to “distract” his opponent.

Despite their seven year absence, Atlantic City is no stranger to UFC. It was in the year 2000 that the UFC in conjunction with the state’s athletic commission developed the standard rules of combat. These rules allowed the support to become officially recognised and respected and helped it clean up its image. Previously cage fighting had been seen as violent, lawless pursuit which only thugs and criminals took part in. Senator John McCain even famously compared the sport to human cock fighting. Also adding to the shared history between the city and the sport is the fact that UFC’s first fight under its current ownership was held in Atlantic City in 2001.

The fight will be held in the Revel Resort and Casino’s amphitheatre which seats around 5,500 people. With the city being deprived of UFC for so long, the atmosphere will likely be electric despite the relatively small size of the arena when compared to other UFC locations.