The UFC will be back in the Middle East later this year. The promotion confirmed this week that it would be returning to Abi Dhabi to put on a fight card there for the 18th time.
The event is set for August 3rd and will take place on Yas Island. During the pandemic the UFC used the country as a base and Dana White sounded very enthusiastic about returning there,
“Abu Dhabi is one of the most incredible cities in the world. I love everything about Abu Dhabi, and I’m excited to bring another kick-ass event there Abu Dhabi is an amazing destination, especially if you are a fight fan. I tell everyone to fly in early, check out the amazing food and experiences Abu Dhabi has to offer, and then end the trip with incredible fights.”
Abu Dhabi! We're coming back this August! 🏝️#UFCAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/cnTEFRGn6U
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) March 7, 2024
Postponed indefinitely
This will be a Fight Night event, not a pay per view. The UFC had been scheduled to hold an event in Saudi Arabia for the first time but that appears to have been postponed until June.
UFC 294 took place at the Etihad Arena last year. Islam Makhachev defended his lightweight title against short notice opponent Alex Volkanovski in the main event.
This card will also take place at the newly constructed 18,000 capacity venue on Yas Island. No fights have been announced at the time of writing but the event in Saudi Arabia was rumoured to have been postponed after concerns over the calibre of the fight card.
Dana White addressed those rumours and claimed the promotion simply needed more time to put together a suitable fight card. But while the Abu Dhabi card in August has a date and venue the event in Saudi Arabia does not.
