Emirates News Agency – Abu Dhabi to host UFC 294 next October

ABU DHABI, 16th March, 2023 (WAM) — The UFC announced today that it will return to Abu Dhabi for UFC 294 on Saturday, October 21, where the best MMA fighters in the world will once again be at the Etihad Arena showdown.

UFC 294 will be the latest event to be held in the UAE capital as part of a landmark partnership launched in 2019 between the world’s top mixed martial arts organization and the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi).

The UFC 294 fight card has yet to be announced, but the event will be headlined by a highly anticipated title fight. A packed house at the Etihad Arena saw Islam Makhachev become the lightweight champion last year when he beat Charles Oliveira in a second-round stoppage at UFC 280.

UFC 294 will mark the UFC’s 18th event in Abu Dhabi since UFC 112 in 2010, when legend Anderson Silva faced fellow Brazilian Demian Maya. Since then, some of MMA’s biggest names have performed in the UAE capital, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev.

Abu Dhabi also hosts events on the biosecure ‘Fight Island’, where Abu Dhabi hosted 12 UFC events from July 2020 to January 2021.

Saleh Al Geziry, Director, DCT Abu Dhabi Tourism, said: “Abu Dhabi and the UFC have a deep and trusted partnership that dates back more than a decade. We understand the passion and desire of fans in the region for world-class events, Together, we are constantly working to deliver fight cards that will appeal to as many viewers as possible. UFC 294 and the fifth Abu Dhabi fight will be memorable and we look forward to unveiling the fight cards in the coming months.”