Abu Dhabi is confirmed as the venue for UFC 242. Photo: Reproduction/ Instagram ufc
The UFC finally made it official UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi on September 7th. Ultimate published, in the early hours of this Monday (29), on its social networks, a poster confirming the event. The expectation is that the card will mark the return of Khabib Nurmagomedov to the octagons after almost 11 months away.
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In addition to the announcement, the company also announced a five-year partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi). According to the organization's representative, Dana White, MMA fans in the United Arab Emirates were demanding Ultimate's return to the country.
“We are making a long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi because we have had great success in that market. The number of fans requesting the UFC's return to Abu Dhabi has been overwhelming and, over the next five years, the Department of Culture and Tourism will help us put on some spectacular fights”, concluded Dana after the launch.
Including the September event, this will be the third time that Ultimate arrives in the United Arab Emirates. The first time happened in 2010, when the main star of the event was the Brazilian Anderson Silva, when he defended his old champion belt against his compatriot Demian Maia in a controversial fight, at UFC 112.
In 2014, four years later, the company organized another event in the country, led by Brazilian Rodrigo Minotauro e Roy Nelson. On that occasion, Minotauro was defeated by knockout. Since then, the UFC community has not arrived in the region to hold major events.
The expectation is that in the UFC 242 the duel for the unification of the lightweight title (up to 70,3kg.) between Dustin poirier, who recently won the division's interim belt, and the lineal champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, suspended after confusion at UFC 229, in October last year.
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