The UFC’s globetrotting ways are expected to continue in 2013, really to no one’s surprise.

And the calendar year could feature the promotion heading to a new market that has produced one of the most highly regarded fighters in history.

UFC President Dana White believes the company will make its way to Russia sometime in 2013 for its first live event there.

The UFC also is expanding into India this year with an expected edition of “The Ultimate Fighter” there, followed by a live event. But White believes in the case of Russia, the UFC will host an event there first before trying out something like a “TUF” season.

“I would say this year (we’ll go to Russia),” White told a small group of reporters following Saturday’s UFC on FOX 6 card in at United Center in Chicago. “I think what’s going to go on in Russia is we’ll put on a live event there first (before an ‘Ultimate Fighter’ season). We’ll do a live event in Russia, and just like every other event we’ve done, you do the live event and it explodes.

Russia, of course, produced the legendary Fedor Emelianenko, regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights in history, as well as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of all time. He had a win streak of nearly 10 years before finally losing in the opening round of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix in 2011.

Emelianenko recently retired from the sport, and on Saturday White also revealed that the UFC was close to signing him for a 2012 fight against former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, a fight that would have taken place in Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

But while a show in Russia won’t likely feature Emelianenko, who told the UFC he was committed to his retirement, the country’s history in combat sports could make the promotion’s planned debut there promising.

“Mixed martial arts is already big over there,” White said. “Sambo is big over there. (We’ll do a live event) and then we’ll see where the market goes from there.”

Recent Russian signee Khabib Nurmagomedov (19-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) just improved to 3-0 in the UFC after a UFC on FX 7 first-round knockout of Thiago Tavares. White said the UFC will continue to scout talent from Russia – but that’s something it does regardless of what part of the world they’re planning to head to.

“We’re always looking for the best guys no matter where they’re from – every country,” he said.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Khabib Nurmagomedov)