By:  | September 14, 2023 10:06 am

Said Nurmagomedov is heading to the city where his namesake finished his career. The Russian bantamweight will be competing at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on October 21st.

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s final two fights both took place in Abu Dhabi. He submitted Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje before walking away from the sport with a perfect professional record.

Nurmagomedov (17-3) doesn’t have quite as impressive a record. He is coming off a loss to Jonathan Martinez at UFC Fight Night 221 which snapped his four fight winning streak.

At UFC 294 he has been matched with Muin Gafurov. The ONE Championship veteran previously fought in Abu Dhabi at UAE Warriors 15 but was defeated on his UFC debut earlier this year.

Title rematch

UFC 294 will be the promotion’s first event in Abu Dhabi this year. The card will be headlined by a rematch with Islam Makhachev putting his lightweight title on the line against Charles Oliveira.

The two men first met at UFC 280 last year. Makhachev submitted Oliveira in the second round to win the lightweight title in Abu Dhabi, at the same venue which will host the rematch.

Makhachev would go on to beat Alex Volkanovski by decision at UFC 284 in Perth to defend the belt. He is the protege of Khabib Nurmagomedov who held the lightweight title himself and retired undefeated.

At UFC 289 last month Oliveira stopped Beneil Dariush in the opening round. The Brazilian holds the promotion’s record for most finishes, most submission and most bonuses.

 

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Middleweight debut

The card will also feature the middleweight debut of Khamzat Chimaev. Having missed weight by nearly 10lbs at UFC 280 he has moved up a division and will be taking on Paulo Costa.

Also in the middleweight division Nassourdine Imavov has been matched with Ikram Aliskerov. The former had been booked to fight Costa at UFC 291 but that fight was cancelled with both men facing different opponents in October instead.

Good support

Mohammad Yahya has signed with the UFC and will debut in Abu Dhabi next month. The reigning UAE Warriors lightweight champion will become the first fighter from the country to compete inside the octagon.

Yahya has been booked to face Trevor Peek at UFC 294. The event is set for the Etihad Arena on October 21st and the Emirati should get good support from the fans in Abu Dhabi.

Strawweight fight

A strawweight fight between Victoria Dudakova and Jinh Yu Frey is also on the UFC 294 card. The former is coming off a slightly fortuitous victory over Istela Nunes at UFC Vegas 77. The former ONE Championship atomweight title challenger dislocated her elbow in the opening round and was unable to continue.

Frey is a veteran of nine UFC fights but the 38 year old has lost her last three. Before signing for the promotion she fought for Road FC and Rizin and has been in with the likes of Ayaka Hamasaki and Seo Hee Ham.

UFC 294, Abu Dhabi, October 21st
Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira (For lightweight title)
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa (Middleweight)
Nassourdine Imavov vs. Nassourdine Imavov (Middleweight)
Tim Elliott vs. Muhammad Mokaev (Flyweight)
Abu Azaitar vs. Sedriques Dumas (Middleweight)
Jinh Yu Frey vs. Victoria Dudakova (Strawweight)
Mohammad Yahya vs. Trevor Peek (Lightweight)
Anshul Jubli vs. Mike Breeden (Lightweight)
Said Nurmagomedov vs. Muin Gafurov (Bantamweight)