UFC's first visit to Abu Dhabi had A. Silva against D. Maia. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
UFC president, Dana White, revealed that the organization will once again hold an event in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, in 2014.
The UFC visited the city only once, in 2010, in edition number 112, in an event that White himself considers one of the most disappointing in the company's recent history. The first time the organization arrived in the Middle East, the main fight was between Brazilians Anderson Silva e Demian Maia, valid for the middleweight title.
After showing aggression in the first rounds, Anderson exaggerated his jokes and provocations in the final phase of the fight. Even though he won the judges' decision, the then champion's stance generated controversy, in addition to leaving White furious.
However, the UFC boss believes this is the right time to return to the UAE capital. Furthermore, he revealed which markets the UFC should explore this season.
“We will return to Abu Dhabi this year, and we are heading towards other markets”, he said, in a press conference in an excerpt reproduced by the North American website MMA Weekly. “We are growing within China, as we are on television there [through the reality show The Ultimate Fighter]. We have just signed new agreements in Europe and the Middle East. England, Sweden, Poland, Ireland, Turkey, and most importantly, we will be back in Germany in 2014,” said White.
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