The Ultimate Fighting Championship is returning to Abu Dhabi this fall for UFC 294.
Promotion officials announced on Thursday that the PPV card will take place on October 21, 2023. The venue is once again set to be the Etihad Arena, which most recently hosted UFC 280 in October 2022.
It's official – we're headed back to Abu Dhabi in October for #UFC294!!
🎟 Register your interest: https://t.co/FklxNLCaHo@VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/8WWqhPlaLh
— UFC (@ufc) March 16, 2023
No fights for the upcoming UFC 294 were announced on Thursday, and given the long date, it’s likely they may not be for a while.
The promotion has built a strong partnership with Abu Dhabi, however, holding numerous events on “Fight Island” (Yas Island) throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
The Fight Island branding was a particular stroke of genius by the UFC, who have held 14 events to date in the locale, at two separate venues. Early Fight Island dates were situated inside the du Forum; cards then shifted to the Etihad Arena after construction of the venue completed, starting with UFC on ABC 1 in 2021.
After holding four events in Abu Dhabi in 2021, the promotion returned just once last year, for the aforementioned UFC 280.
A mini-site promoting UFC 294 has been set up under visitabudhabi.ae. The event will take place as part of “Showdown Week,” with a week-long schedule of events and activities set to be announced at a later date.
