UFC announces return to Abu Dhabi for Fight Night event in August

The UFC is headed back to Abu Dhabi, this time for a Fight Night.

Promotion officials announced Wednesday morning that a UFC Fight Night event will take place Aug. 3 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. This is expected to be one of two shows this year after the UFC extended it’s deal with Abu Dhabi.

We Are Back! The Octagon returns to Abu Dhabi on Sat 3 August!

Register now: https://t.co/4bQ10RkKOO#UFCAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/Lwcn7wkVUZ

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 6, 2024

The UFC’s most recent trip to Abu Dhabi came last October for UFC 294 where lightweight champion Islam Makhachev knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in the first round to retain his belt in the main event. In the co-main event, Khamzat Chimaev edged out former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in a competitive back-and-forth battle.

After the fights, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the promotion’s plans to hold more than one event in Abu Dhabi in 2024.

“Yeah, pay-per-views and Fight Nights,” White told MMA Junkie during the UFC 294 post-event news conference. “These guys are interested in – I think we did a deal for three Fight Nights, but they’re interested in much, much more as far as Fight Nights go. So, we’ll see how this thing plays out.”