When UFC announced that main events would take place in Abu Dhabi over the next five years it turned heads across the world.
Then, when Khabib Nurmagomedov, one of the biggest names in the sport was confirmed for the main event, tickets to the event in the UAE capital were hot property.
Abu Dhabi Showdown Week has brought out the big guns too with concerts by Red Hot Chili Peppers, J Balvin, happy hour deals, pool parties, UFC fighter meet and greets, Knockout Burgers, fitness events, open training, the weigh-in and so much more to get the atmosphere building ahead of fight night.
With UFC 242 set to be the first of many UFC events in Abu Dhabi, the next few years could see some massive fights take place in the UAE.
UFC President Dana White has confirmed that more big fights are on the way and that the UFC has a close connection with the UAE capital.
“We have a really close connection with Abu Dhabi because we’ve already been there a few times, and the fights we’ve done there before,” White said.
“The people of the UAE have been so good to the UFC. We are going to continue to come back and bring big fights to the Middle East.”
Looking ahead to the big night, five fights will make up the main card for UFC 242.
The main event sees Khabib Nurmagomedov face Dustin Poirier for the UFC Lightweight Championship.
Across the rest of the card the crowd will see bouts between Edson Barbosa and Paul Felder, islam Makhachev and Davi Ramos, Curtis Blaydes and Shamil Abdurakhimov, and Mairbek Taisumov and Carols Diego Ferreira.
We’ll see you by the Octagon.
