SpringfieldNewsSun.com

COLUMBUS — During Thursday's pre-event press conference for the upcoming "UFC 96: Jackson vs. Jardine" pay-per-view event at Nationwide Arena, Ohio Athletic Commission Executive Director Bernie Profato presented UFC President Dana White with a lifetime matchmaker's license.

While it may have largely been a ceremonial move on the OAC's part, White plans to put the license to work in the coming years.

On Saturday, the UFC will host its third annual event in Columbus, which is headlined by Quinton Jackson vs. Keith Jardine.

White said, as of Thursday, fewer than 1,000 tickets remained for the event, which the organization expects will sell out by fight night.

The sales figures assure another blockbuster event for Columbus, which hosted UFC 68 in 2007 (with 19,049 attendees and a $3 million gate) and UFC 82 in 2008 (16,043 for a $2.2 million gate).

"Ticket sales have been great here again despite the bad economy," White said. "It's considered a sellout. We have about a thousand tickets left, so we consider it a sellout. We'll see how the walkup is."

As with past years, the UFC loaded its Columbus card with Ohio fighters. Cincinnati native Matt Hamill and Xenia's Matt Brown compete in separate main-card bouts, and Beavercreek's Mike Patt and Cuyahoga Falls' Ryan Madigan are slotted for fights on the preliminary card.

Returning to Columbus

With three consecutive successful events, Columbus will now be an annual stop for the UFC.

"We love Columbus," White said. "Every year we've been here we've been successful. We plan to keep going back every year and making this a regular thing."

Jardine, who's fought throughout the country, said Midwest fight fans can be found everywhere he fights.

"It's not just in the Midwest," Jardine said. "Even the events in Las Vegas and California are full of people from the Midwest. MMA has its roots and fan base in places like Ohio."

As with the past two years, Saturday's event coincides with the Arnold Sports Festival, a three-day sports and fitness exhibition.

"Columbus works for us because so much is going on here," said White, who sees a lot of crossover between the two events. "It's a pretty good marriage."

UFC 96 Weigh-ins

When: Today, 3-5 p.m.

Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus

What: All 20 fighters officially weigh in for UFC 96

Cost: Free