Dublin is fast becoming a pillar of Bellator MMA, as the promotion gears up to host its third blockbuster show in the Irish capital in just twelve months.
Now an established stop on the promotion's European circuit, Bellator will host a show at the 3 Arena on February 22nd and is likely to return to Ireland at least once more in 2020.
And Bellator Head of Europe David Green reckons that the shows are only getting bigger and better.
"It really does (get more important for us)," Green told the Irish Mirror.
"I think what's interesting is that we did the show in February 2019 and we announced the show for September.
"At first I was just hoping it was going to be as big as February - but it was definitely a bigger and better atmosphere which you'd think is almost impossible.
"For us it's just been magic here, so it made absolute sense to start off the 2020 (European) campaign back here in Dublin."
As well as offering opportunities to Irish stars to fight on front of a big home crowd, the company has handed several fighters multi-fight deals - solidifying an investment in Irish MMA.
Green added: "It's important to reward the fighters and the athletes for their loyalty in the first year with us.
"We got on board for an adventure and a journey at the beginning of last year and we've all been part of it so it's nice to see them rewarded with long term deals so they can feel secure and get on with their career.
"It's really important not to just come somewhere and not come back again, because what we're trying to do is build an audience and that's been the model here."
Green was caught in the middle of the two main event stars for February's show at this week's press conference, with James Gallagher and Cal Ellenor engaging in a war of words ahead of their clash.
The pair were originally supposed to clash in September, but the fight fell through in the eleventh hour and Gallagher has given the Englishman a second bite at it this time around.
And Green, noting that the pair do have a healthy respect, claimed that he had a feeling there would be some fighting talk as both head towards their camps.
"I started to think that it might happen. We saw Cal (Ellenor) and James (Gallagher) in London a few weeks ago doing some media before the London event and it was all very respectful.
"I think now we're getting to that point where they've started camps and they need to focus on eachother as opponents - James especially thrives on that.
"I wasn't surprised to see that tone change (at the press conference)."
Tickets for Bellator Dublin are on sale now through Ticketmaster.ie and Bellator.com , as well as the 3Arena box office.
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