The UFC is returning to ‘Fight Man-Made Peninsula’.
The UFC is returning to Abu Dhabi for the first time since UFC 257 in January. At that location, home to what they termed ‘Fight Island’, the promotion will hold UFC 267, which is expected to feature a light heavyweight title showdown. That event is scheduled for October 30.
The UFC made this announcement via a flashy video, possibly put together by their friends at United Arab Emirates’ Department of Culture and Tourism.
We Are BACK!@UFC announces #UFC267 will be held in Abu Dhabi on October 30. More info ??
[@VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi]
— UFC News (@UFCNews) August 10, 2021
The so-called Fight Island was one of two havens the UFC utilized, the other being the Las Vegas-based APEX facility, during the first 15 months of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The UFC secured their Persian Gulf safe-space after Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the UAE’s most powerful entrepreneur, called Endeavor C.E.O Ari Emanuel with an offer to host the Octagon.
UFC 267 is expected to feature two title fights. The main event is slated to see Jan Blachowicz defend his UFC light heavyweight title against Glover Teixeira. The co-main event is expected to be Aljimain Sterling defending the UFC bantamweight champion versus Petr Yan.
Other fights linked to the card include Islam Makhachev vs. Rafael dos Anjos, Khamzat Chimaev vs. Li Jingliang, Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura, Walt Harris vs. Tai Tuivasa and Amanda Ribas vs. Virna Jandiroba.