After calling out seemingly everyone else UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has his next title defense set for UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 21.
UFC president Dana White made the announcement on social media.
UFC Abu Dhabi is OFFICIAL!#UFC294 | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/i59hmUXfyf
— danawhite (@danawhite) July 20, 2023
Also fighting at UFC 294 will be a much anticipated showdown between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev.
Costa and Chimaev had a run in at the UFC PI a little under a year ago where the two had words. Costa released footage on his YouTube channel.
Costa (14-2) was set to face Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City, UT. This week Costa went to social media to post a series of cryptic tweets, and then suddenly his fight with Aliskerov was off. The announcement today put the rumors to rest and made the fight with Chimaev official.
Chimaev (12-0) will see his first action since UFC 279 in Sept of 2022 where he defeated Kevin Holland in a literal last second bout following missing weight for the main event bout with Nate Diaz.
Aliskerov (14-2) was also move to UFC 294 and will take on Nassourdine Imavov as part of the card in Abu Dhabi.
Also set for the card, announced previously, is a flyweight bout between Tim Elliot and Muhammad Mokaev.
