THE UFC returns to Abu Dhabi this weekend for one of their biggest cards of a stacked year.
Mixed martial arts’ premier promotion returns to the capital of the UAE for a blockbuster UFC 294 card at the Etihad Arena.
The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi this weekend for a blockbuster UFC 294 cardGETTY
A rematch between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski headlines the cardGETTY
GETTYUndefeated Khamzat Chimaev will also make his return in the co-main event of the evening[/caption]
The card was due to be headlined by a lightweight title rematch between champion Islam Makhachev and former titleholder Charles Oliveira.
But a gruesome cut for Do Bronx laid waste to the fight, although it paved the way for a mammoth rematch between Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski.
In the co-main event of the evening, the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev will make his middleweight debut against former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Former pound-for-pound king Usman will look to defeat the Chechen clubber on a mere 11 DAYS’ notice following Paulo Costa’s withdrawal.
UFC 294, on paper, is undoubtedly one of the best cards the promotion has put on this year.
So SunSport thought it’d only be right to bring you everything you need to know about the event.
When and where is UFC 294 taking place?
UFC 294 takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 21.
UFCKhamzat Chimaev faces former welterweight champ Kamaru Usman on 11 days’ notice[/caption]
What times does UFC 294 start?
The prelims for the promotion’s 12th pay-per-view card of the year – which will be aired on UFC Fight Pass – will get underway at 3pm BST time. (10am ET and 7am PT).
The main card – which kicks off with a bantamweight barnburner between Said Nurmagomedov and Muin Gafurov – will commence at 7pm. (2pm ET and 9am PT)
What channel is UFC 294 on and can it be live streamed?
The pay-per-view portion of UFC 294 will be broadcast on TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland.
TNT customers will be able to stream the card to their mobile or tablet device if they’re unable to sit down in front of the tele to watch the show.
American customers will be able to watch the pay-per-view offering on ESPN Plus, although they’ll have to already be a subscriber to the service to purchase the card.
The pay-per-view event itself will cost an additional $79.99.
Who is fighting on the card?
Islam Makhachev (c) vs Alexander Volkanovski (lightweight title fight)
Kamaru Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight title eliminator)
Magomed Ankalaev vs Johnny Walker (light-heavyweight bout)
Ikram Aliskerov vs. Warlley Alves (middleweight bout)
Said Nurmagomedov vs Muin Gafurov (men’s bantamweight bout)
Prelims
GETTYKamaru Usman could earn a rematch with new middleweight champ Sean Strickland[/caption]
Tim Elliott vs Muhammad Mokaev (men’s flyweight bout)
Mohammad Yahya vs Trevor Peek (lightweight bout)
Javid Basharat vs Victor Henry (men’s bantamweight bout)
Abu Azaitar vs Sedriques Dumas (middleweight bout)
Mike Breeden vs Anshul Jubli (lightweight bout)
Nathaniel Wood vs Muhammad Naimov (featherweight bout)
Victoria Dudakova vs Jinh Yu Frey (strawweight bout)
Sharabutdin Magomedov vs Bruno Silva (middleweight bout)
GETTYUFC president Dana White has hailed Volkanovski and Usman for stepping up on short notice[/caption]
What’s been said?
UFC president Dana White said of Volkanovski stepping up for the short-notice rematch.
“The Volkanovski crew, him and Israel [Adesanya], these guys are absolute studs, man.
“This is how we do it, brother.
“One fight falls out and we end up making a fight – it’s one of the most anticipated rematches ever in that weight class.”
On the stakes for Usman vs Chimaev, he said: “The fact that these guys are taking this fight on short notice.
“T(the winner) will get the next shot at the title barring injuries and other things that can possibly happen.”