The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is making a long-awaited return to Oklahoma City after nearly a decade, the organization confirmed on Saturday. The Fight Night event is set to take place at the Paycom Center on Saturday, July 18, marking a major milestone for mixed martial arts fans in the region.

"We are honored to host the first UFC event in Oklahoma in nearly 10 years," said Chris Semrau, General Manager of the Paycom Center, in an official statement. "The community has been asking for this kind of event for years, and we're very excited to finally bring the highest level of MMA back to Oklahoma City. This will surely be one of the major events of the summer for the region."

The UFC, recognized as the world's premier mixed martial arts organization, has a storied history in Oklahoma City. The promotion first visited the city on September 16, 2009, with a Fight Night headlined by Nate Diaz and Melvin Guillard. The most recent event was a Fight Night featuring Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Lee on June 25, 2017. This upcoming card will mark the first time the Octagon has been set up in the city in eight years.

"Visit Oklahoma City is beyond excited for the return of the UFC to our market after many years," said Adam Wisniewski, Vice President of Sports Development for Visit OKC. "Our city takes pride in hosting the country's most premier sporting events, and bringing another UFC Fight Night is something we are very much looking forward to adding to Oklahoma City's resume. We can hardly wait to welcome thousands of fans to Oklahoma City and to assist in producing an event our city will talk about for years to come."

While the full fight card and ticket on-sale details have yet to be announced, a Paycom Center representative confirmed to local media that more information will be released later this month. As the summer heats up, this event promises to be a highlight for fight fans and a powerful showcase for Oklahoma City's sports scene.