The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to make history with its first event in Saudi Arabia on June 22. The event will be headlined by a highly anticipated middleweight bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker. This announcement was made by Dana White, the president of the UFC, on Wednesday night.
The UFC Fight Night card will be broadcast for free on ABC, allowing fans from around the world to witness this exciting event. The main event between Chimaev and Whittaker will determine the No. 1 contender for the middleweight championship currently held by Dricus Du Plessis.
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Chimaev, with an impressive record of 13-0, last fought in October when he defeated former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. He was originally slated to face Du Plessis at UFC 300 in April, but Du Plessis suffered injuries to both legs during his championship fight with Sean Strickland in January. Du Plessis has stated that he expects to be ready for a mid-2024 return.
Whittaker, a former middleweight champion with a record of 26-7, is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa in February. This win marked his return to the octagon after a TKO loss to Du Plessis in July 2023.
In addition to the highly anticipated main event, White also announced four other exciting fights on the Saudi Arabia card. Sergei Pavlovich will face off against Alexander Volkov, Kelvin Gastelum will take on Daniel Rodriguez, Johnny Walker will go up against Volkan Oezdemir, and Shara Magomedov will fight Ihor Potieria.
The inclusion of these exciting matchups on the card is sure to draw a lot of attention and anticipation from MMA fans all over the world. The UFC’s expansion into Saudi Arabia represents a significant milestone for the promotion as it continues to grow its global reach and appeal.
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As the date of the event approaches, fans can expect to see plenty of hype and build-up surrounding the fights, with both Chimaev and Whittaker eager to prove themselves and secure a shot at the middleweight title. The opportunity to witness high-level competition in a new location like Saudi Arabia is sure to add an extra level of excitement to the event.
Overall, the UFC’s first event in Saudi Arabia promises to be a memorable and action-packed night of fights. With a mix of established stars and up-and-coming talent on the card, fans can look forward to an evening of thrilling MMA action. Be sure to mark your calendars for June 22 and tune in to see history being made in the octagon..
The UFC will put on its first event in Saudi Arabia on June 22 with a card headlined by a middleweight bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker, Dana White, the promotion’s president, announced Wednesday night.
The UFC Fight Night card will air for free on ABC.
Chimaev and Whittaker will fight to determine the No. 1 contender for middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, White said.
Chimaev (13-0) hasn’t fought since he defeated former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October.
He had pushed for a title bout with Du Plessis at UFC 300 in April, but Du Plessis injured both legs when he took the championship from Sean Strickland in their January UFC 297 fight. Du Plessis told ESPN earlier this month that he is expecting to be ready by mid-2024.
Whittaker (26-7), a former middleweight champ, is coming off a unanimous-decision win over Paulo Costa in February. It was his first fight since a TKO loss to Du Plessis in July 2023.
White announced four other fights on the Saudi Arabia card: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov, Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez, Johnny Walker vs. Volkan Oezdemir and Shara Magomedov vs. Ihor Potieria.
Source
ESPN.com said Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker tops UFC Saudi Arabia card June 22
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