The UFC is officially headed to Abu Dhabi for the first time since 2014.
A UFC 242 pay-per-view event has been scheduled for Sept. 7 in Abu Dhabi, the promotion announced Sunday. The event is part of a new five-year partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, that will place live events in Abu Dhabi through at least 2023.
The UFC has not announced a headliner for the September event; however it’s expected to feature the return of undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (27-0). Nurmagomedov, of Dagestan, publicly stated last month that he and the UFC were working on securing a fight in Abu Dhabi.
Nurmagomedov hasn’t fought since he defended his lightweight title against Conor McGregor, at UFC 229 in October. The 30-year-old is currently serving a nine-month suspension for his role in a post-fight melee at that event. The suspension runs through July 6.
Nurmagomedov is expected to face newly crowned interim champion Dustin Poirier (25-5), who defeated Max Holloway in an interim title fight on April 13.
The UFC has hosted two previous events in Abu Dhabi, including a UFC 112 pay-per-view event in 2010. MMAFighting.com first reported the Sept. 7 date of the next event.
According to the UFC, events in the region during the five-year commitment will be headlined by at least one championship bout.
“We are making a long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi because we have had great success in that market,” UFC president Dana White said in a statement. “The demand from our fans to bring UFC back to Abu Dhabi has been overwhelming, and over the next five years, DCT Abu Dhabi will help us deliver some spectacular UFC championship fights to the [United Arab Emirates]. I’m very excited about his partnership and what it will mean for the growth of this sport and for UFC in the region.”