The Spanish-Georgian UFC featherweight champion, Ilia Topuriawill paralyze our country again this Saturday, October 26. His figure has increased since he was proclaimed champion of the largest mixed martial arts league in the world and, now, he has the opportunity to continue expanding his legacy against a legend like the former Hawaiian champion Max Holloway.
The fight, which will be the star of the UFC 308 event, will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. And many people are wondering: why in the capital of the United Arab Emirates? Everything has an explanation, and it is due to multiple factors, as is often the case with the organization of events and numbered cards within the UFC.
The reason why the fight is held in Abu Dhabi
The first thing to know is that it is a Pay Per View (PPV) event in the United States and Australia, which means that these evenings are fueled by title fights, so we had to find which champion could defend his belt in this scenario. In addition, territories like Abu Dhabi or Saudi Arabia are paying large amounts for the UFC to organize big MMA nights in their countries.
Typically, the man heading up these numbered events in Abu Dhabi was Islam MakhachevMuslim, pupil of Khabib Nurmagomedov and current UFC lightweight champion. However, a hand injury has prevented him from being present to defend his title and, in addition, he already warned that he no longer wanted to headline the PPVs in Abu Dhabi since it is an unfavorable schedule for the United States, less are sold there and the Fighters who have commission from these sales earn less money.
With Makhachev ruled out, the UFC got to work. The fight that could best suit them there was Ilia Topuria against Max Holloway, since the PPV events in November and December already had other great figures scheduled to defend their titles. Given the possibility that Topuria would be put in Salt Lake City, a city without much experience in these big lawsuits, they said yes to Abu Dhabi.
And there is a very positive factor for Topuria: the schedule. In the capital of the United Arab Emirates there is only a two-hour difference, so the fight against Holloway will be able to be enjoyed in full Spanish ‘prime time’, something that will help a lot to attract new audiences and reinforce those that have already joined. to mixed martial arts.
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