Is MMA on the decline? Weak ticket sales, half-empty arenas plague UFC 327 and ‘Rousey vs. Carano’ fight cards
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 28: UFC President and CEO Dana White speaks during a post fight press conference during UFC Fight Night: Adesanya v Pyfer at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images) | Getty Images UFC 327 takes place this weekend at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla. , with Jiri Prochazka fighting Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight title in the five-round main event.
Shortly before that 205-pound clash of styles, former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa will go head-to-head with Russian knockout artist Azamat Murzakanov . Fans aren’t exactly rushing to grab seats. But the recent decline in live attendance doesn’t appear to be strictly a UFC problem.
The “Rousey vs. Carano” lineup on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Calif. , isn’t doing much better — even with a stacked main card that features a bevy of notable names from UFC, including Ronda Rousey, Francis Ngannou, Nate Diaz, Junior dos Santos, and many more.
I guess it’s cheaper to stay home and watch MMA on Paramount+ and Netflix. Current look at ticket sales for #UFC327 on Saturday in Miami (pink seats are already sold but just up for resale) And Rousey vs. Carano about a month out from that event at Intuit Dome #UFC #RouseyvsCarano pic.
twitter. com/VRDwOZdw3s — Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) April 6, 2026 Kaseya Center holds 19,600 fans while Intuit Dome can pack in 18,300. You can argue the “Sunshine State” extravaganza will see an increase of ticket sales the day of the event, just as you can also argue the “Rousey vs.