UFC Returns to Abu Dhabi with Blockbuster Lineup Headlined by Volkanovski and Yan

The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi in October, and the headline bouts announced over the weekend are certainly ones to whet the appetite. Alexander Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title against No 1-ranked Mosvar Evloev, while bantamweight champ Petr Yan settles his trilogy against Merab Dvalishvili. Those are blockbuster bouts that would grace any card.

It should go some way to making up for the damp squib that was UFC 321, the last time the world's leading MMA promotion held a numbered event in the UAE capital. To be fair, that wasn't the UFC's fault. The main event was over before it really got going after the referee called a no contest when then-heavyweight belt holder Tom Aspinall was on the receiving end of eye pokes from Ciryl Gane, deemed accidental.

The co-main event saw Mackenzie Dern realise a lifelong dream of winning UFC gold. The Brazilian was awarded a unanimous decision over Vira Jandiroba to win the vacant women's strawweight title. The truth is, Dern spent the majority of the bout either on her back or on her backside, striking her opponent, and a spectacle it wasn't.

Even before those fights, the warm-up acts left you a little cold with precious little to cheer as Umar Nurmaogmedov ragdolled Mario Bautista for 15 minutes straight. However, Azamat Murzakanov starched Aleksandar Rakic with a flurry of punches in Round 1, and Quillan Salkilld added to his highlight reel with a sensational head kick to send Nasrat Haqparast into the shadow realm.

The overall feeling of the thousands of fans emptying the Etihad Arena last October was one of disappointment, heavily influenced by the outcome of the main event which left Tom Aspinall requiring multiple surgeries. It felt like the UFC owed Abu Dhabi one, given it is a second home for the organisation.

Volkanovski can rightfully claim to be the greatest featherweight in UFC history, having defeated Diego Lopes for the vacant belt in April 2025 and again in their rematch. Meanwhile, Petr Yan will be fighting in Abu Dhabi for the fifth time in his UFC career, setting up a highly anticipated trilogy bout with Merab Dvalishvili where neither fighter has competed since their last meeting.