UFC's return to Middle East official for April 11 at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi
The UFC has partnered with Flash Entertainment for a Middle East expansion, both with live events and broadcast events.
The two-year deal includes a broadcast agreement for “The Ultimate Fighter†reality competition, as well as the UFC’s return to Abu Dhabi for a live event on April 11.
The previously reported “Fight Night†event now has a home at Yas Island, a man-made entertainment center in Abu Dhabi. The UFC’s first visit to the region, for UFC 112 in 2010, also took place on Yas Island in an outdoor arena constructed specially for the event.
In the main event, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (34-8-1 MMA, 5-4 UFC) meets “TUF 10″ winner Roy Nelson (19-9 MMA, 6-5 UFC) in a heavyweight bout. The card will stream on UFC Fight Pass. No other bouts have been announced yet.
The UFC’s deal with Flash Entertainment will include at least five events in the Middle East region over the next two years.
“This agreement is a major step in our strategic expansion across EMEA and, in particular, will see our audience grow dramatically across the region,†stated Garry Cook, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of UFC in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. “There is a huge market for the UFC in the Middle East. The fans want live events and can now look forward to local tailored content in the region.â€
“Flash Entertainment has worked with some of the biggest sports organisations and brands in the world and they are committed to a shared vision for delivering an unrivaled product in terms of excitement and production values to the Middle Eastern audience.â€
The Abu Dhabi stop is the second in the UFC’s planned six events in the EMEA region in 2014. The first takes place March 8 in London with UFC Fight Night 37.
