UFC Summer time Roars Again to Abu Dhabi
The Etihad Enviornment in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi roared again to life on Saturday, July 26, 2025, as UFC Summer time Combat Night time kicked off with Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder headlining a blistering struggle card. In an exciting most important occasion, rising Dutch phenom Reinier de Ridder surprised struggle followers by edging out former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker by way of break up resolution, a career-defining win that propelled him to 4-0 within the UFC and firmly into the title dialog, underscoring Abu Dhabi’s continued function on the coronary heart of the game’s largest moments.This occasion marked UFC’s twenty first go to to Abu Dhabi since 2010, a quantity that tells its personal story of transformation, each for the game and for the Emirate internet hosting it.The stacked card, held at Etihad Enviornment, featured a tantalizing mixture of rising contenders and embellished veterans, promising thrilling motion throughout a number of weight lessons with high-octane showdowns throughout a number of divisions. A number of the anticipated matchups embody:
- Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico
- Petr Yan vs.
Marcus McGhee - Bryce Mitchell vs.
Stated Nurmagomedov - Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
- Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov
All eyes now flip to the calendar’s subsequent centerpiece: UFC 321, set to headline Abu Dhabi Showdown Week on October 25, 2025, promising one other blockbuster card within the capital. Tickets go on sale July 25 by way of etihadarena.ae and Ticketmaster.ae, and anticipation is already hovering.
15 Years of UFC in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s UFC journey started in 2010 with UFC 112, the promotion’s first-ever outside occasion, that includes iconic matchups like Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia and Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn. What began as an experimental and audacious enterprise has since blossomed into one in all fight sports activities’ most profitable worldwide partnerships. Along with the Division of Tradition and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), UFC has now hosted 21 occasions within the metropolis, firmly establishing Abu Dhabi as what followers and insiders proudly name “the struggle capital of the East.” Amongst these 21 occasions are among the most iconic fights in fashionable UFC historical past:1. UFC 112 (April 2010)
- Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia – Middleweight title struggle
- Frankie Edgar vs. B.J. Penn – Edgar upsets Penn to win the Light-weight title
– First-ever UFC outside occasion; Abu Dhabi’s UFC debut2. UFC 242 (September 2019)Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier – Light-weight title unificationKhabib dominates and defends his title in a globally watched occasion3. UFC 254 (October 2020)Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje – Light-weight titleKhabib wins by submission and emotionally retires contained in the Octagon4. UFC 257 (January 2021)Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier II – Light-weight boutPoirier avenges his 2014 loss with a surprising 2nd-round knockout5. UFC 267 (October 2021)Glover Teixeira vs. Jan Błachowicz – Gentle heavyweight titleTeixeira turns into one of many oldest champions in UFC historical past at age 426. UFC 280 (October 2022)Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira – Light-weight title struggleMakhachev dominates to assert the vacant title, ushering in a brand new period7. UFC 294 (October 2023)Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski II – Light-weight titleMakhachev finishes the featherweight champ with a first-round head kick KO8. UFC 308 (October 2024)Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway – Featherweight titleTopuria defends the belt with a knockout win over fan-favorite Holloway The town additionally performed a vital function in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it hosted Combat Island, a secured worldwide struggle bubble that saved the game alive whereas the remainder of the world shut down. It set a precedent for crisis-era sports activities logistics and bolstered Abu Dhabi’s popularity for world-class occasion administration. This trajectory was formalised in 2019 when UFC and DCT Abu Dhabi signed a long-term settlement that was prolonged in October 2023 via 2028. Underneath the renewed deal, Abu Dhabi will proceed to host a significant UFC occasion yearly, together with not less than one Combat Night time per yr within the broader MENA area. As HE Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, remarked:“Over a 15-year relationship, UFC has prolonged its world attain and Abu Dhabi has established itself as a world capital for fight sports activities. Renewing our partnership with UFC permits us to proceed to stage main occasions that thrill guests and residents.”
The UFC CEO’s Take: “I Love It Right here.”
UFC CEO Dana White, by no means one to withhold enthusiasm, is effusive in his reward for Abu Dhabi’s function within the organisation’s world growth:“Abu Dhabi is one in all my favorite locations on the planet; the folks, the eating places, the resorts, it’s unbelievable. I’ve been so excited to have the ability to placed on among the largest fights within the historical past of UFC in Abu Dhabi and it’s solely going to get even larger from right here with extra Combat Nights coming to the area subsequent yr. I adore it right here.” White has good purpose to adore it. Over the course of their partnership:
- Abu Dhabi has hosted 9 title fights
- Broadcasted to 900 million properties throughout 170+ nations
- Introduced in world names like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya, and Max Holloway
- Delivered persistently sold-out occasions and record-breaking digital engagement
The infrastructure, security, and seamless hospitality of Abu Dhabi has made it a perfect venue not just for occasions, however for long-term strategic progress.
Energy Slap : A New Frontier in Fight Sports activities, And It is Again
As UFC cements its place in Abu Dhabi, so too does its controversial youthful sibling: Energy Slap. Based by Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, and Craig Piligian in partnership with UFC, the regulated slap-fighting league debuted internationally in Abu Dhabi in 2024 with Energy Slap 9: Dumpling vs Da Loopy Hawaiian, a wild, sold-out showdown that led to a dramatic draw. That single occasion generated staggering metrics:
- 700 million+ views throughout social platforms
- Over 1 billion mixed attain by way of influencer advertising and marketing
- A sold-out crowd at Area 42 Enviornment
Following its breakthrough success, Energy Slap returns to Abu Dhabi on October 24, 2025, only a day earlier than UFC 321, once more at Area 42 Enviornment. It should stream dwell and free on YouTube and Rumble, persevering with its mission to democratize viewership and scale consciousness. Dana White, in a press release, expressed his unrelenting perception within the format and the host metropolis:“Energy Slap has had 13 straight sold-out occasions, and is now heading again to Abu Dhabi, one of many premier struggle capitals on the planet. In simply two years, Energy Slap has exploded with almost 30 million followers and shut to twenty billion video views throughout our platforms. The Center East is turning into a hotbed for Energy Slap, and I’m excited to carry it again.”
A Sports activities Capital by Design
Abu Dhabi’s rise as a world sports activities vacation spot hasn’t been unintentional, it’s been deliberate, strategic, and deeply resourced. Through the years, the town has performed host to marquee worldwide occasions such because the System 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, NBA preseason video games, world-class boxing bouts, and the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. In 2025 alone, it’ll stage two of the UFC’s cornerstone occasions and Energy Slap’s solely worldwide showcase. Backed by top-tier infrastructure, seamless logistics, and a authorities that treats sport as each an financial engine and a device of soppy energy, Abu Dhabi continues to redraw the map of worldwide athletics. As UFC Summer time surges ahead within the capital and the countdown begins for UFC 321 and Energy Slap, Abu Dhabi has confirmed that it’s not an rising vacation spot, however the vacation spot.
