The UFC will debut in Saudi Arabia this summer time, and it’s bringing a significant middleweight headliner with it.
Former champion Robert Whittaker will tackle Khamzat Chimaev in a five-round primary match on June 22, UFC CEO Dana White introduced Thursday.
White added the bout’s winner will earn a crack at name gold and introduced the primary card will air on ABC.
Different fights at the card come with Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov, Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez, Volkan Oezdemir vs. Johnny Walker, Shara Magomedov vs. Ihor Potieria.
BOOOOOOM!!!!!!
UFC is heading to Saudi Arabia for the primary time with a BAD ASS card, headlined by means of Whittaker vs Chimaev LIVE and FREE on ABC on June twenty second %.twitter.com/2OZW2AEmLH
— danawhite (@danawhite) March 28, 2024
Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC), No. 4 in the newest USA TODAY Sports activities/MMA Junkie middleweight scores, appears to proceed the momentum from a unanimous resolution victory over Paulo Costa in February. The win was once his 2d in 3 fights and bounced him again into the win column after a loss to Dricus Du Plessis.
Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) returns for the primary time since September 2022, when he defeated former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman by means of majority resolution. The No. 8 middleweight’s different UFC victories come with Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland amongst others.
The present UFC Saudi Arabia lineup comprises:
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Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
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Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
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Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez
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Volkan Oezdemir vs. Johnny Walker
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Shara Magomedov vs. Ihor Potieria