What was the first UFC event held in Brazil?

UFC Brazil was the first UFC event held in Brazil.

UFC Brazil took place on October 16, 1998, at the Ginasio da Portuguesa in São Paulo. It was the promotion's first event in Brazil and was headlined by a heavyweight title fight between Randy Couture and Vitor Belfort. Couture won by unanimous decision.

The event carried the simple title “UFC Brazil” rather than a numbered UFC designation. Its location reflected Brazil's major influence on early mixed martial arts, particularly through Brazilian jiu-jitsu and fighters associated with the Gracie family and other academies.

UFC Brazil should not be confused with UFC 17, UFC 20, or UFC 23, all of which were held in the United States. Later Brazilian events received numbered or branded titles, including UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro in 2011, but UFC Brazil was the promotion's first visit to the country.