UFC president Dana White likes to boast about his organization’s ability to quickly sell-out arenas in new markets. The UFC has set attendance records at some venues, but that won’t be the case when TD Garden hosts UFC 118 Saturday.

Tickets went on sale June 25 and as of last weekend about 11,000 tickets had been sold. The Garden’s capacity for the event will be 15,500.

“I was shocked that we didn’t sell out,” White told the Herald Monday. “Everybody is telling me that things are rough back there.”

Despite the relatively slow sales, White expects a packed house.

“We think it’s going to sell out,” White said. “I think we’re like a couple thousand away from it. But when we get down to a thousand, we consider that a sell out. We’ll do that from walkup (sales).”

White said he wasn’t disappointed the show hadn’t sold out, attributing the underwhelming sales to the economy.

“Everything is great,” White said. “The fight card, the lead-up and now going there is all good stuff.”

White promised a blockbuster card for UFC’s Massachusetts debut and he believes he’s delivered. The card is headlined by a rematch between lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn. Another marquee fight is a heavyweight matchup with UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and boxing champion James Toney.

“We’ve had such great cards this year - I think we’re bringing a great card,” White said. “I’m proud and happy to bring this card there.”

White will be at Fenway Park [map] today to throw out the first pitch at the Red Sox [team stats]-Mariners game. Though he has previously expressed interest in a show at Fenway, that idea is on the back-burner.

“Let’s see what happens here,” White said. “We have to get through this one first.”

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