News, UFC August 1, 2024

UFC Abu Dhabi now has two annual events

UFC Abu Dhabi now has two annual events
UFC Abu Dhabi, a significant event in the MMA calendar, is now a twice-yearly spectacle. In a groundbreaking move, the UFC and Abu Dhabi DCT (Department of Culture and Tourism) have extended their successful partnership, introducing a second fight card each year. The first of these thrilling events is set to occur on August 3rd, 2024, at the prestigious Etihad Arena.

While both cards will be stacked with the explosive MMA action and drama that the UFC’s famous octagon is known for, they’re not exactly the same. One is a UFC Fight Night, and the other is a numbered event—the latter being UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26th, 2024.

This may sound slightly confusing to those who are new to the sport, so let us explain the differences between a UFC Fight Night and a UFC numbered event.

UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

The newly introduced UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi differs from the numbered shows in one key way—there are no title fights. The top of the bill is usually reserved for up-and-coming stars on the UFC roster in a battle that will help them climb the rankings and put themselves in contention for a shot at a championship.

You’re unlikely to see superstars like Islam Makhachev, Valentina Shevchenko or Conor McGregor at UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi. However, the fighters selected for these cards have a point to prove so expect explosive performances as they look to make themselves a household name. From a regional perspective, the best part about an annual UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi is that local fighters often get their shot at the big time, too, so expect to see GCC-based brawlers in the octagon.

UFC Fight Nights usually take place in the US. Over the years, they’ve operated as a roadshow, bringing the UFC to rarely visited cities. However, this deal between DCT and the UFC guarantees the show comes to Abu Dhabi yearly—an unprecedented move and one that is a huge bonus for MMA fans in the region.

UFC numbered events

If you read the above, you’ll have an idea of how UFC numbered events differ. As we said, there’s usually (more on this in a second) a title on the line at these shows. Over the last few years, Abu Dhabi has hosted some of the most electrifying championship match-ups in UFC history. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Dustin Poirier, Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkonovski and Israel Adesanya vs Paolo Costa delighted the fans on Yas Island.

The majority of the card features champions and highly ranked contenders, guaranteeing you’ll see some of the UFC’s most prized assets up close.

However, the UFC can choose to headline its numbered cards without a championship bout, but only if that headliner’s name is Conor McGregor. Having transcended the sport of MMA, McGregor is the one who is given special treatment to top a card without a belt at stake – and rightly so, he’s one of the biggest sports stars on the planet. UFC 257 on Yas Island did just that when Conor took on Dustin Poirier in a hotly contested main event.

Book your UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Night package now.