KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
UFC fans from all over the world flocked to a sold-out Etihad Arena on Saturday to bear witness to one what many described as the biggest fight night of the year, kicking off the capital's jam-packed sporting calendar ahead of the winter season.
The event saw historic moments for combat sports including the first ever knock out of Hawaii legend Max Holloway and a dominant performance by rising star and UAE-based Khamzat Chimaev.
Ramzi Shaheen, a Palestinian-American footballer born in Abu Dhabi, who has long been a diehard fan of the sport, told Aletihad there was nothing quite like seeing the event happening in the place he grew up.
"Watching it live is a whole new experience, different to watching it on TV, especially watching it in Abu Dhabi, it's better than anywhere else because the amount of effort that goes into the event," he told Aletihad on Saturday night.
"They make it extra special because they know us fans love it so much, the arena is so spectacular, you feel like you are in the octagon no matter where you are sitting."
Back in 2010, Abu Dhabi established a strong partnership with the UFC, making it a prominent destination for mixed martial arts (MMA) events in the Middle East.
The relations deepened significantly in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when Abu Dhabi became the exclusive location for the UFC's "Fight Island," providing a secure environment for fighters and staff amid global travel restrictions.
The collaboration has since expanded with regular annual events held in the city, boosting Abu Dhabi's status as a global sports hub, with UFC CEO, Dana White, even previously saying that Abu Dhabi would overtake Las Vegas as the fight capital of the world.
On Saturday, the sport's global rise and appeal, and Abu Dhabi's ability to bring them together in a central location was fully visible.
Chants in Georgian, Russian, Arabic and Spanish could be heard ringing around the arena, with many fans having travelled specifically for the event.
With a growing number of fighters choosing to increasingly base themselves out of the capital, and no sign of slowdown in what has become one of the fastest growing combat sports in recent memory, Abu Dhabi looks well set to cement itself as a major fight capital.
"One of the best events I have been to, I will definitely be back next year," Ramzi said.