UFC Summer Roars Back to Abu Dhabi
The Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi roared back to life on Saturday, July 26, 2025, as UFC Summer Fight Night kicked off with Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder headlining a blistering fight card. In a thrilling main event, rising Dutch phenom Reinier de Ridder stunned fight fans by edging out former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker via split decision, a career-defining win that propelled him to 4-0 in the UFC and firmly into the title conversation, underscoring Abu Dhabi’s continued role at the heart of the sport’s biggest moments.
This event marked UFC’s 21st visit to Abu Dhabi since 2010, a number that tells its own story of transformation, both for the sport and for the Emirate hosting it.
The stacked card, held at Etihad Arena, featured a tantalizing mix of rising contenders and decorated veterans, promising thrilling action across multiple weight classes with high-octane showdowns across several divisions. Some of the anticipated matchups include:
15 Years of UFC in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s UFC journey began in 2010 with UFC 112, the promotion’s first-ever outdoor event, featuring iconic matchups like Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia and Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn. What started as an experimental and audacious venture has since blossomed into one of combat sports’ most successful international partnerships. Together with the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), UFC has now hosted 21 events in the city, firmly establishing Abu Dhabi as what fans and insiders proudly call “the fight capital of the East.”
Among those 21 events are some of the most iconic fights in modern UFC history:
1. UFC 112 (April 2010)
2. UFC 242 (September 2019)
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier – Lightweight title unification
Khabib dominates and defends his title in a globally watched event
3. UFC 254 (October 2020)
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje – Lightweight title
Khabib wins by submission and emotionally retires inside the Octagon
4. UFC 257 (January 2021)
Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier II – Lightweight bout
Poirier avenges his 2014 loss with a stunning 2nd-round knockout
5. UFC 267 (October 2021)
Glover Teixeira vs. Jan Błachowicz – Light heavyweight title
Teixeira becomes one of the oldest champions in UFC history at age 42
6. UFC 280 (October 2022)
Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira – Lightweight title fight
Makhachev dominates to claim the vacant title, ushering in a new era
7. UFC 294 (October 2023)
Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski II – Lightweight title
Makhachev finishes the featherweight champ with a first-round head kick KO
8. UFC 308 (October 2024)
Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway – Featherweight title
Topuria defends the belt with a knockout win over fan-favorite Holloway
The city also played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it hosted Fight Island, a secured international fight bubble that kept the sport alive while the rest of the world shut down. It set a precedent for crisis-era sports logistics and reinforced Abu Dhabi's reputation for world-class event management.
This trajectory was formalised in 2019 when UFC and DCT Abu Dhabi signed a long-term agreement that was extended in October 2023 through 2028. Under the renewed deal, Abu Dhabi will continue to host a major UFC event annually, including at least one Fight Night per year in the broader MENA region.
As HE Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, remarked:
“Over a 15-year relationship, UFC has extended its global reach and Abu Dhabi has established itself as a world capital for combat sports. Renewing our partnership with UFC allows us to continue to stage major events that thrill visitors and residents.”
The UFC CEO’s Take: “I Love It Here.”
UFC CEO Dana White, never one to withhold enthusiasm, is effusive in his praise for Abu Dhabi’s role in the organisation’s global expansion:
White has good reason to love it. Over the course of their partnership:
Power Slap: A New Frontier in Combat Sports, And It's Back
As UFC cements its place in Abu Dhabi, so too does its controversial younger sibling: Power Slap. Founded 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 Power Slap 9: Dumpling vs Da Crazy Hawaiian, a wild, sold-out showdown that ended in a dramatic draw.
That single event generated staggering metrics:
Dana White, in a statement, expressed his unrelenting belief in the format and the host city:
A Sports Capital by Design
Abu Dhabi’s rise as a global sports destination hasn’t been accidental, it’s been deliberate, strategic, and deeply resourced. Over the years, the city has played host to marquee international events such as the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, NBA preseason games, world-class boxing bouts, and the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. In 2025 alone, it will stage two of the UFC’s cornerstone events and Power Slap’s only international showcase.
Backed by top-tier infrastructure, seamless logistics, and a government that treats sport as both an economic engine and a tool of soft power, Abu Dhabi continues to redraw the map of global athletics. As UFC Summer surges forward in the capital and the countdown begins for UFC 321 and Power Slap, Abu Dhabi has proven that it is no longer an emerging destination, but the destination.
The Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi roared back to life on Saturday, July 26, 2025, as UFC Summer Fight Night kicked off with Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder headlining a blistering fight card. In a thrilling main event, rising Dutch phenom Reinier de Ridder stunned fight fans by edging out former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker via split decision, a career-defining win that propelled him to 4-0 in the UFC and firmly into the title conversation, underscoring Abu Dhabi’s continued role at the heart of the sport’s biggest moments.
RdR keeps climbing 😤
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2025
Reinier de Ridder takes the Split Decision in the #UFCAbuDhabi main event!
[ #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi |@VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/KDqsaOWjEp
This event marked UFC’s 21st visit to Abu Dhabi since 2010, a number that tells its own story of transformation, both for the sport and for the Emirate hosting it.
The stacked card, held at Etihad Arena, featured a tantalizing mix of rising contenders and decorated veterans, promising thrilling action across multiple weight classes with high-octane showdowns across several divisions. Some of the anticipated matchups include:
- Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico
- Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov
- Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
- Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov
15 Years of UFC in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s UFC journey began in 2010 with UFC 112, the promotion’s first-ever outdoor event, featuring iconic matchups like Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia and Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn. What started as an experimental and audacious venture has since blossomed into one of combat sports’ most successful international partnerships. Together with the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), UFC has now hosted 21 events in the city, firmly establishing Abu Dhabi as what fans and insiders proudly call “the fight capital of the East.”
Among those 21 events are some of the most iconic fights in modern UFC history:
1. UFC 112 (April 2010)
- Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia – Middleweight title fight
- Frankie Edgar vs. B.J. Penn – Edgar upsets Penn to win the Lightweight title
2. UFC 242 (September 2019)
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier – Lightweight title unification
Khabib dominates and defends his title in a globally watched event
3. UFC 254 (October 2020)
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje – Lightweight title
Khabib wins by submission and emotionally retires inside the Octagon
4. UFC 257 (January 2021)
Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier II – Lightweight bout
Poirier avenges his 2014 loss with a stunning 2nd-round knockout
5. UFC 267 (October 2021)
Glover Teixeira vs. Jan Błachowicz – Light heavyweight title
Teixeira becomes one of the oldest champions in UFC history at age 42
6. UFC 280 (October 2022)
Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira – Lightweight title fight
Makhachev dominates to claim the vacant title, ushering in a new era
7. UFC 294 (October 2023)
Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski II – Lightweight title
Makhachev finishes the featherweight champ with a first-round head kick KO
8. UFC 308 (October 2024)
Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway – Featherweight title
Topuria defends the belt with a knockout win over fan-favorite Holloway
The city also played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it hosted Fight Island, a secured international fight bubble that kept the sport alive while the rest of the world shut down. It set a precedent for crisis-era sports logistics and reinforced Abu Dhabi's reputation for world-class event management.
This trajectory was formalised in 2019 when UFC and DCT Abu Dhabi signed a long-term agreement that was extended in October 2023 through 2028. Under the renewed deal, Abu Dhabi will continue to host a major UFC event annually, including at least one Fight Night per year in the broader MENA region.
As HE Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, remarked:
“Over a 15-year relationship, UFC has extended its global reach and Abu Dhabi has established itself as a world capital for combat sports. Renewing our partnership with UFC allows us to continue to stage major events that thrill visitors and residents.”
The UFC CEO’s Take: “I Love It Here.”
UFC CEO Dana White, never one to withhold enthusiasm, is effusive in his praise for Abu Dhabi’s role in the organisation’s global expansion:
“Abu Dhabi is one of my favourite places in the world; the people, the restaurants, the hotels, it’s incredible. I have been so excited to be able to put on some of the biggest fights in the history of UFC in Abu Dhabi and it’s only going to get even bigger from here with additional Fight Nights coming to the region next year. I love it here.”
White has good reason to love it. Over the course of their partnership:
- Abu Dhabi has hosted 9 title fights
- Broadcasted to 900 million homes across 170+ countries
- Brought in global names like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya, and Max Holloway
- Delivered consistently sold-out events and record-breaking digital engagement
Power Slap: A New Frontier in Combat Sports, And It's Back
As UFC cements its place in Abu Dhabi, so too does its controversial younger sibling: Power Slap. Founded 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 Power Slap 9: Dumpling vs Da Crazy Hawaiian, a wild, sold-out showdown that ended in a dramatic draw.
That single event generated staggering metrics:
- 700 million+ views across social platforms
- Over 1 billion combined reach via influencer marketing
- A sold-out crowd at Space 42 Arena
Dana White, in a statement, expressed his unrelenting belief in the format and the host city:
“Power Slap has had 13 straight sold-out events, and is now heading back to Abu Dhabi, one of the premier fight capitals in the world. In just two years, Power Slap has exploded with nearly 30 million followers and close to 20 billion video views across our platforms. The Middle East is becoming a hotbed for Power Slap, and I’m excited to bring it back.”
A Sports Capital by Design
Abu Dhabi’s rise as a global sports destination hasn’t been accidental, it’s been deliberate, strategic, and deeply resourced. Over the years, the city has played host to marquee international events such as the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, NBA preseason games, world-class boxing bouts, and the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. In 2025 alone, it will stage two of the UFC’s cornerstone events and Power Slap’s only international showcase.
Backed by top-tier infrastructure, seamless logistics, and a government that treats sport as both an economic engine and a tool of soft power, Abu Dhabi continues to redraw the map of global athletics. As UFC Summer surges forward in the capital and the countdown begins for UFC 321 and Power Slap, Abu Dhabi has proven that it is no longer an emerging destination, but the destination.
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