Ari Emanuel, who owns the UFC's parent company, inquired about the availability of the warehouse next to the UFC headquarters in 2017. The warehouse was formerly the global headquarters of slot machine manufacturer Scientific Games.^[3] UFC bought the property in October 2018 for $40 million, and invested $30 million into making the property ready for media production.^[4]

The facility was officially opened on June 18, 2019.^[5] In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, following three events in Jacksonville, all U.S.-based UFC events were held at the Apex behind closed doors.^[6][7][8] After the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Apex continues to host select UFC Fight Night events (as well as Dana White's Contender Series cards), and now allows for limited public spectators. The Apex features the 25-foot wide Octagon variant typically used for smaller events and venues, as opposed to the standard 30-foot wide version. As UFC began staging the majority of its events at the Apex, early fight data and fan speculation suggested that the use of the smaller Octagon resulted in higher-volume and faster-pace striking fights, along with more finishes.^[9][10]

In late January of 2022, there was an article from the Las Vegas Review-Journal stating the UFC Apex plans to expand seating up to 1,000 people, adding food / alcohol service, ticket sales, souvenir shop, along with adding extra parking.^[11]

In January 2026, the UFC announced that the UFC Apex would be renamed Meta Apex as part of a 5-year naming rights deal and branding partnership with Meta.^[12]

• UFC Performance Institute
• WWE Performance Center