LONDON: Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) action will return to Abu Dhabi on October 30 it was announced on Tuesday.
UFC and the Emirati capital’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) said UFC 267 will headline a series of events to be held during “Abu Dhabi Showdown Week.”
It will feature city-wide activations including fan events, fitness showcases and other events.
The second edition of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week comes as part of the five-year partnership forged by UFC and DCT Abu Dhabi that will bring championship UFC events to Abu Dhabi until 2023.
The inaugural Abu Dhabi Showdown Week was held in September 2019 and culminated with UFC 242: Khabib vs. Poirier front of a sold-out crowd of over 14,000 fans on Yas island.
Abu Dhabi also became the official home of UFC Fight Island, with three instalments of the UFC Fight Island series on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi since July 2020, allowing for UFC athletes from all around the world to compete in a safe and secure environment during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are going back to Abu Dhabi in October,” said UFC President Dana White. “Abu Dhabi is incredible – I love that place and the people. I have been talking about all of the things we are working on. I plan on getting all the deals buttoned up this summer. I can’t wait to go back and share everything we are working on together,” he added.
“This is indeed a truly special milestone for Abu Dhabi and yet another indication of the strength of our partnership with UFC, as well as Abu Dhabi's readiness to host momentous sporting events,” Ali Hassan Al-Shaiba, executive director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi said.
“Following the success of the previous Fight Island editions, the ultimate goal was always to bring back fans, and with hard work, collaboration and coordination across Abu Dhabi government entities, public and private sectors and our UFC partners, we will be able to achieve this once again, allowing fans to experience the thrill of live events once again in a safe and secure environment, which remains our utmost priority.”
