Jorge Masvidal captured the UFC’s “BMF” title in the main event of UFC 244 yesterday but today we look at why the Middle East is so important for this iconic sport.
UFC 242
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BRAVE CF
Is MMA fighting a losing battle in the Middle East?
It’s a growing multi-billion dollar segment of the global sports industry, but is the Middle East’s mixed martial arts scene at risk of losing its biggest fighters to low pay?
Artwork
Opinion: so how do you put a value on something?
Have you read Oscar Wilde’s ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan’? Even if the answer is no, everyone is surely familiar with the play’s most famous quip: A cynic is “a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing” one character says, a theme which runs throughout a lot of the articles in this week’s issue
Abu Dhabi
Gallery: Mohamed bin Zayed meets Khabib Nurmagomedov at Qasr Al Bahr
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi congratulating him on winning the Abu Dhabi’s UFC 242 on Saturday night, held at the Arena on Yas Island.
Abu Dhabi
‘Massive’ female fight may headline Abu Dhabi UFC event, says UFC President
Dana White said that the UFC would have female fighters headline an event if a big enough match-up is found
Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed congratulates Khabib Nurmagomedov on winning UFC in Abu Dhabi
Khabib Nurmagomedov was accompanied by his father Abdulmanap, and his team who helped him prepare for the fight at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Arena.
Belal Muhammad
Khabib Nurmagomedov nets $50,000 performance bonus for UFC 242 win
Three other fighters also earned bonuses for their performances at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Abu Dhabi win underlines Russian fighters’ growing hold on UFC
Khabib Nurmagomedov plans Abu Dhabi return as McGregor looks for rematch
Dustin Poirier
Khabib Nurmagomedov a ‘huge’ boost for UFC’s Middle East business, says executive VP
Following Saturday’s fight with Dustin Poirier, Khabib Nurmagomedov said ‘I love these people and they love me.’
Abu Dhabi Showdown Week
Gallery: Action from UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi
Russia’s Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated American fighter Dustin Poirier in the main event to remain the undisputed UFC lightweight champion in Abu Dhabi’s UFC 242 at The Arena in Yas Island.
Abu Dhabi
UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov said to earn $6m for Abu Dhabi victory
UFC President Dana White said a fight with US fighter Tony Ferguson is likely next, although a re-match with Conor McGregor is possible
Dustin Poirier
Middle East ‘very important’ to the UFC, says executive VP
UFC’s Lawrence Epstein says region is a high priority and potentially lucrative for the sport
Abu Dhabi
Poirier promises tough battle for Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi
Former UFC professional Dan Hardy says that Poirier may prove more of a challenge for Nurmagomedov than many of his Middle East fans expect
Abu Dhabi
‘Big fights’ headed to Abu Dhabi in the future, says UFC’s Dana White
UFC president Dana White said he believes UAE fighters will soon begin appearing on UFC fight cards
Abu Dhabi
Khabib Nurmagomedov vows to beat Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi amid widespread Middle East support
Russian UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov said that support in the region “excites” him ahead of UFC 242
Abu Dhabi
How to get your free tickets for UFC 242 weigh-in in Abu Dhabi
Ticketmaster says to offer first-come-first-served tickets to the weigh-ins from midday on September 2
Abu Dhabi
Exclusive: How Bahrain helped make Khabib Nurmagomedov a global UFC star
Russian fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov trained with Bahrain’s KHK MMA as he recovered from injuries several years ago