The UFC 242 card in Abu Dhabi now has eight fights confirmed as well as a venue. The event will take place at Du Arena and, as previously announced, it will be headlined by a lightweight unification bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier.
There is a strong Russian presence on the card with Shamil Abdurakhimov, Muslim Salikhov, Islam Makhachev and Mairbek Taisumov all fighting as well as Nurmagomedov. The only Asian representative booked at present is Japanese welterweight Takashi Sato.
Abdurakhimov (20-4) is riding a three fight winning streak and is currently at #10 in the heavyweight rankings. He will be looking to move into title contention with a win over #4 ranked Curtis Blaydes (11-2-0-1), who was stopped in the main event of UFC Fight Night Beijing last year.
Sato (15-2) scored a devastating KO win over Ben Saunders at UFC on ESPN+ 8 in April. The Pancrase veteran will be looking to make it two wins out of two when he faces fellow welterweight Belal Muhammad (11-2) who is a promotional veteran and has Palestinian roots.
Salikhov (15-2) will need no introduction to fight fans in Asia. The Russian is a multiple time wushu world champion who made his name competing in China and he returns after an 18 month absence to face French welterweight Nordine Taleb (15-6).
UFC 242, Abu Dhabi, September 7th
Khabib Nurmagomedov (c) vs. Dustin Poirier (For Lightweight Title)
Belal Muhammad vs. Takashi Sato (Welterweight)
Khalid Taha vs. Bruno Gustavo Aparecido Da Silva (Bantamweight)
Curtis Blaydes vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov (Heavyweight)
Teemu Packalén vs. Ottman Azaitar (Lightweight)
Nordine Taleb vs. Muslim Salikhov (Welterweight)
Islam Makhachev vs. Davi Ramos (Lightweight)
Mairbek Taisumov vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira (Lightweight)
