KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s a TKO Takeover with bulls on parade in the metro.

Wednesday, city officials and Professional Bull Riding and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) representatives gathered at the T-Mobile Center to celebrate the beginning of the first-ever TKO Takeover, with PBR bull riding kicking off the festivities Thursday night. The Kansas City Sports Commission helped facilitate the landmark occasion, marking the first time TKO has held PBR, UFC and WWE events in the same city within the same week.

Thanks to UFC Fight Night on Saturday and WWE’s Monday Night Raw, Kansas City Sports Commissioner Director Kathy Nelson estimates all three events will collectively generate a $6.4 million economic impact for the city.

“Kansas City has such a great history of hosting world-class events,” Nelson said. “And we are thrilled to continue that tradition by partnering with the biggest brands in the sports and entertainment world. We couldn’t be more proud of this.”

News of Kansas City becoming the inaugural city to host a TKO Takeover first dropped in February while Nelson was in Fort Worth, Texas, taking part in a sports events and tourism CEO summit. Nelson, a self-proclaimed passionate PBR fan, could share this news alongside PBR CEO Steve Gleason in front of hundreds of other sports commission leaders.

“I heard a lot of rumblings of, ‘Of course, Kansas City. Kansas City gets everything.’ I couldn’t be more proud, and that moment ranks very high in my career now.”

Thursday night, fans will see “PBR Knockout: Kansas City” at the T-Mobile Center. This Saturday is the first UFC show since April 2023. Fight night also signals the return of Kansas City native Laura Sanko, a UFC color commentator/analyst who graduated from William Jewell College in 2005.

Sanko’s dad, Bob Marcus, was the CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council for over 30 years. Coming from a family that revolved around the area’s revenue scene, Sanko describes this three-day event as a dream come true.

“Kansas City and its economy was dinner table talk for me my entire life,” Sanko said." So, to see TKO come here with these three great events, absolutely massive. I love seeing all things Kansas City popping up on the UFC socials. I’m sure we’ll see that on the WWE socials, as well as PBR."

World Wrestling Entertainment will rock Kansas City and the T-Mobile Center next week with Monday Night Raw. Hot off the heels of WrestleMania 41, this is WWE’s first live-streaming show in the metro since Raw came to town last April.

Overall, PBR, UFC and WWE have produced over 60 shows in Kansas City over the last 20 years.

“I know one thing about Kansas City,” Sanko said. “We love all things rodeo, we love fighting and we love wrestling.”