UFC to return to Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena in October

The UFC will return to Abu Dhabi in October for another pay-per-view event, it was announced on Friday.

The world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion will stage UFC 281 on October 22 at Etihad Arena – its first show in the capital since UFC 267 last October.

As of yet, no bouts have been announced, although the card will feature at least one world title fight. The event falls under the five-year agreement signed between Abu Dhabi and the UFC in April 2019.

The emirate strengthened its relationship with the promotion through the pandemic, in which it hosted three Fight Island series totalling 12 events – four of which were the UFC’s marquee numbered shows – between July 2020 and January 2021.

UFC 267, meanwhile, was headlined by Glover Teixeira’s light-heavyweight championship win against belt-holder Jan Blachowicz. UFC 281 will be part of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, which runs October 17-23.