
The countdown is on for a knockout night in Abu Dhabi: UFC Fight Night
If you've been itching to head out, this is one event that's guaranteed to stir up the energy.
This year's card is headlined by a massive middleweight clash, as No.5 ranked Robert Whittaker steps into the Octagon against Reinier de Ridder.
The Dutch star, who's been steadily rising through the ranks, will go toe-to-toe with one of the division's most seasoned fighters.
Oh and the undercard is stacked alright, here are the matches you can catch:
Sharaputdin Magomedov vs Marc-André Barriault (Middleweight): This could end up being the fight of the night
Ibo Aslan vs Billy Elekana (Light Heavyweight): This one's got KO written all over it.
Ramazan Temirov vs Asu Almabayev (Flyweight): Expect speed, precision and fireworks.
Doors open from 5.30pm, giving fans plenty of time to grab their seats and soak up the build-up before fists fly.
UFC® Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder marks the 21st UFC event in Abu Dhabi and if that tells you anything, it's that the capital has become a mainstay in MMA's global journey.
Abu Dhabi continues to be UFC's most consistent host outside North America, with the emirate playing a central role in the sport's international expansion.
The fight night is part of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week – a seven-day takeover that transforms the city into a hotspot for all things UFC.
From fan events and live shows to the high-energy UFC Fan Experience at Yas Mall, the build-up brings plenty of reasons to join the fun even before fight night arrives.
And it doesn't stop there.
Abu Dhabi's calendar is stacked with big-name gigs (we're talking Jennifer Lopez, Scorpions and Benson Boone), major sporting moments (hello, F1) and loads of festivals.
With so much on offer, the city has firmly carved its place as a go-to destination for global entertainment. From F1 races to MMA fight nights, the variety on show means there's something for every kind of fan.
As for tickets, prices start at Dhs195, with various tiers available depending on how close to the action you want to be.
For those after the full VIP treatment, UFCVIP.com has premium packages that include backstage access and athlete meet-and-greets.
Ready to watch the fights live? Book your tickets via etihadarena.ae.
From Dhs195. Sat Jul 26, from 5.30pm. Etihad Arena. visitabudhabi.ae
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
'I went on a date with a doctor and realised he told big lie when I turned up'
A woman's date with a doctor ended in disaster as she realised she had been lied to shortly she turned up, and she was quick to share her experience with others A woman who went on a date with a doctor discovered he had told her a huge lie as she arrived. The lie left self-proclaimed "internet bestie" Chrissy stunned as she shared how her evening quickly went from exciting to seriously disappointing. She shared the lie in a post to her Instagram page, leaving others equally shocked. The now viral post from June 24 confirmed there would not be a second date with the doctor, whom she had met on an online dating app. Chrissy, too, felt uncomfortable with the deception on her date, and says she is going to "stick to meeting men organically" after this experience. She shared: "His pics were from a Peru trip 24 years ago. Cool story bro. But ya don't look like that anymore." The pictures may have been a red flag for Chrissy, but the unnamed man's comments after the date left her "stung". Chrissy added: "On the date we realized we have a MUTUAL friend. After our date, He told her I wasn't as PRETTY in person. "I don't look like my pics. That STUNG. Coming from a 54 y.o. lying about his age. "He's clearly fishing for a young one. I hope he meets a baddie & she puts him in his place. I think I'll stick to meeting men organically for now." Captioning the post, she said: "Date with a doctor. We went Dutch. He lied about his age. His pics were from 24 years ago. He answered four calls. There will not be a second date." Going "Dutch" on a date means that each person pays their share, with Chrissy paying for her food and the doctor date paying for his. Chrissy's followers have since commented on the date and almost unanimously sided with her. One user wrote: "Showed this to my med school student boyfriend and he said 'I'm SO interested in what specialty he is… I'm guessing a cardiologist', so if you remember which specialty, interested minds would love to know (and shame!) "Also so sorry this was your experience that's so extremely disrespectful and you deserve so much better." Another comment reads: "You made the connection that you had a mutual friend during the date and he went back and told her something negative about you knowing that she would tell you. He was bitter and intentionally did that to hurt you." A third added: "Sounds like he was trying to preemptively say negative things about you so it didn't look like you rejected him. What a sad little man." Though the doctor received plenty of criticism, one comment did defend him taking the four phone calls during dinner. They wrote: "Can't shame him if he's on call he's on call but if they were personal calls then that's different."


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Lewis Hamilton comforted Kimi Antonelli after tricky Belgian GP
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli received advice from Lewis Hamilton during a challenging weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix. Antonelli, 18, has experienced a difficult run of Formula 1 races since his podium finish in Canada, including retiring from two Grands Prix and finishing 16th at Spa. Hamilton visited Antonelli in the Mercedes motorhome and encouraged him to 'keep his head up' and 'keep believing' after Antonelli was emotional following Q1 elimination. Hamilton, who also started his F1 career with a top team, expressed support for Antonelli, acknowledging the pressure on an 18-year-old in such a position. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has stated that retaining Antonelli and George Russell is now his 'priority' for the next season.


Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Mary Poppins is the most complained about film of 2024 over controversial slur
Mary Poppins has been named the most complained about film of 2024 following its use of discriminatory language. In rather surprising news, given the Disney family film's release in 1964, it still managed to attract ire and comment 60 years later. The popular musical starring screen legends Dame Julie Andrews as Mary and Dick Van Dyke as chimney sweep Bert respectively, has long been a childhood favourite and rated U (Universal) by the the British Board of Film Classification. Decades later, it was followed up by 2018 sequel Mary Poppins Returns, starring Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer – as well as a delightful cameo return from Van Dyke. However, last year the organisation adjusted the rating of the original Mary Poppins, reclassifying it as a PG (Parental Guidance) and moving one step away from the suggestion that it was suitable for all audiences. It is this decision which sparked backlash, with the BBFC revealing in its annual report that of the 224 complaints it received in 2024, 56 of them were about Mary Poppins' reclassification. The BBFC had adjusted the movie's rating due to the use of the term 'Hottentots', which it classified as discriminatory language. Admiral Boom, portrayed by Reginald Owen, uses the word twice throughout the film, which was a Dutch racially loaded term, originally used in the 17th century by white Europeans to describe the Khoikhoi, a nomadic indigenous population of South Africa. Thought to be one of the oldest people in the world, the Khoikhoi were driven off their land by white colonial expansion. As the Dutch took over land for farms, the Khoikhoi were dispossessed, killed, or enslaved. Those who chose to remain ended up as farm labourers for the invading settlers. At one stage, Admiral Boom dangles from the roof in a boat and asks if one of the Banks children is off to 'fight' them. Later in the film, he also uses the term to describe the chimney sweeps, with their faces blackened by soot, and says they're being 'attacked' by them. The BBFC report, which also shared that Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is now a PG, also revealed that the complaints were requesting the classification remain unchanged because, although offensive, it is now considered outdated and the same term has also appeared in other films. However, the report argued: 'The two uses of the discriminatory term 'hottentots' are neither criticised nor condemned, increasing the risk that very young viewers might repeat it without realising the potential for offence.' It added: 'Regular research tells us that a key concern for parents is the potential for children to be exposed to discriminatory language or behaviour which they may find distressing or repeat without realising the potential offence.' Others hit back at the decision when Mary Poppins' new classification became public knowledge in February 2024, calling it 'plain ridiculous' and 'strange'. Defending its decision at the time, a BBFC spokesperson told Metro: 'While Mary Poppins has a historical context, the use of discriminatory language is not condemned, and ultimately exceeds our guidelines for acceptable language at U. We therefore classified the film PG for discriminatory language. 'For context, we only review (and potentially reclassify) previously classified content when it's been formally resubmitted to us.' Elsewhere, James Cameron's sci-fi thriller The Abyss received the second largest number of complaints, at 17, following a rumour that a new 4K cinema release had been cancelled owing to concerns over a scene in which a live rat is submerged in liquid. More Trending The BBFC clarified that it had had concerns when the film was originally submitted in 1989 that the scene constituted the 'cruel infliction of terror' on an animal and therefore contravened the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937. It confirmed the organisation's stance had not changed and that the scene had been re-edited in all versions of the film classified by the BBFC since then. Other films' ratings which drew formal complaints included that of Dune: Part Two due to its knife fight between Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler's characters, and Saltburn, with people arguing its 'depiction of sexual obsession was too disturbing for [a rating of] 15′. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Iconic star, 99, sparks concern after dropping out of event due to illness