I think UFC wants a commitment of financial support from sponsors in order to go somewhere, similar to when they canceled a planned Phillipines event because sponsors changed their minds.
I think if the state/local government views bringing an event there would generate visitor spending/economic activity, they would gladly pay to bring an event because ultimately they'd be collecting more sales tax, income tax, hotel tax.
When UFC does an event in Las Vegas, I think they have hotels and casinos buy a bunch of tickets to give complimentary to gamblers, so there's some financial support to UFC with that.