UFC returns to Abu Dhabi with blockbuster card

Abu Dhabi: The countdown has begun for one of the biggest UFC events of the year — and it’s landing in Abu Dhabi.

UFC 321 will headline this year’s Abu Dhabi Showdown Week on October 25, bringing a blockbuster fight card, championship stakes, and global star power to Yas Island. With the Octagon returning to the UAE capital for the 21st time since 2010, UFC 321 promises to be a defining moment in the region’s combat sports journey — and a pivotal chapter in the UFC calendar.

The weeklong celebration of fight culture and entertainment has grown into one of the most anticipated events on the global MMA stage, thanks to a long-standing partnership between UFC and the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).

But before UFC 321 sets the arena alight in October, the summer will serve up its own fireworks. UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder will light up Etihad Arena on July 26, with a main event that could have title implications in the middleweight division.

Former champion and current No.5-ranked contender Robert Whittaker returns to action against Reinier de Ridder, the undefeated Dutch fighter whose transition from ONE Championship has turned heads across the UFC landscape.

UFC CEO Dana White announced the card on social media, calling it “one of the most thrilling Fight Night cards of the year.” De Ridder, who is 3-0 in the UFC, enters the bout after a statement win over rising star Bo Nickal.

“De Ridder is a former middleweight and light heavyweight world champion and has finished everyone he’s fought in the UFC,” White said. “If he beats Whittaker, it’s very likely he’ll be fighting in a No.1 contender bout next. I am pumped for this fight — these guys are both killers and always deliver.”

The main card features two five-round bouts and a deep roster of top-tier talent.

In the co-main event, undefeated featherweight Movsar Evloev faces newly signed UFC prospect Aaron Pico. Evloev, riding an eight-fight win streak since his UFC debut in 2019, most recently outpointed former champion Aljamain Sterling in a hard-fought unanimous decision at UFC 310 in December 2024.

Pico, one of the most hyped free agents in MMA history, brings a 13-4 pro record, a reputation as a ferocious striker, and elite wrestling pedigree from his Bellator days.

“Aaron Pico is a ridiculously violent striker and a very high-level grappler,” White said. “He’s had hype behind him since he was a teenager — people compare him to guys like Justin Gaethje or Dustin Poirier.”

Also featured on the card is former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan, who returns to face rising contender Marcus McGhee. Yan will look to extend his 2024 resurgence after back-to-back wins over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo.

With Abu Dhabi firmly established as a second home for the UFC, this summer’s Fight Night and the spectacle of UFC 321 in October promise to elevate the fight capital’s growing legacy in the sport — and deliver unforgettable moments to fans around the world.