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Anytime a fight sports activities promotion heads to a brand new marketplace for the primary time, it raises a sequence of questions: Will the followers come out to root on their favourite fighters? Will the fights themselves be entertaining? Will this primary effort result in extra playing cards in that space?
These queries, and others like them, had been weighing heavy on the minds of UFC CEO Dana White this previous week. Saturday, MMA‘s prime promotion made its first-ever trek to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when Riyadh was the host metropolis for its sixth Combat Evening present to air on the ABC tv community.
Not solely was this present the promotion’s first endeavor in Saudi Arabia, it was White’s first go to to the nation himself. Though the occasion began out slightly gradual, the product as an entire was superb.
Oktagon Champ Wows on Brief-Discover in ESPN Co-Featured Prelim
Your first dose of fireworks on Saturday afternoon occurred late into the undercard. Throughout the co-featured bout on ESPN, former Oktagon MMA Bantamweight Champion Felipe Lima (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made a short-notice call-up to the game’s No. 1 promotion when he battled Muhammad Naimov (11-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC).
Lima was a late substitute for Melsik Bagdasaryan (8-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), who withdrew from the cardboard attributable to tearing his labrum. Though Felipe Lima was preventing at featherweight, the additional 10 lbs. proved inconsequential, locking up a rear-naked choke a minute and 15 seconds into the third and closing spherical of the competition.
Lima was within the midst of going by his coaching camp for his July 20 rematch for the 135-lb. strap in Oktagon towards challenger Jonas Magard earlier than getting the decision to affix the UFC. He then stops Naimov on Saturday and scores the $50,000 (USD) Performance of the Night Award from White within the post-fight press convention. This can be a man who’s made one of the best first impression doable.
Topped bonus winners within the Kingdom💰
[ #UFCSaudiArabia | #RiyadhSeason | B2YB @BlckRifleCoffee] pic.twitter.com/ccJm5uorOA
— UFC (@ufc) June 22, 2024
A Jaw-Dropping Knockout
Within the lid-lifter of the primary card, mild heavyweights took to the Octagon when Volkan Oezdemir (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC) squared off towards Johnny Walker (21-9, 1 NC MMA, 7-6, 1 NC UFC). One phrase: Brutal.
Halfway by the opening spherical, Oezdemir uncorked an uppercut to place Walker away, knocking him down and out towards the cage fence. Very like Felipe Lima had finished earlier within the day on Saturday afternoon, Oezdemir obtained a highlight-reel end of his personal.
Heading into UFC on ABC 6 over the weekend, Oezdemir was the No. 9 contender within the mild heavyweight division. After his knockout win in Riyadh, he’s (on the most) one to 2 wins away of firmly coming into the sunshine heavyweight championship image.
If he scores one other spotlight reel-finish in his subsequent combat, Oezdemir could get into the dialog even sooner. Solely time will inform the place he’ll be after his subsequent look.
Whittaker Now Firmly in Middleweight Title Image
Talking of fighters being within the thick of the hunt for division championships, Robert Whittaker (26-7 MMA, 17-5 UFC), who entered this previous weekend at No. 3 within the rankings at 185 lbs., is now in that place because of his first-round knockout of Ikram Aliskerov (15-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in the main event of the cardboard on Saturday.
He could even get the title shot before he expects. Dana White talked about in Saturday night time’s post-fight press convention that Whittaker might probably function the alternate within the UFC 305 most important occasion from Perth, Australia in lower than two months’ time.
“We’d like to have him,” White informed the media after the present. Even Whittaker himself would enjoy the opportunity ought to it occur to come up.
“Yeah, undoubtedly, undoubtedly. I’m in good well being,” Whittaker talked about throughout the ESPN+ post-fight present on Saturday night. “It’s in my residence nation. How might I say no?” Knockouts just like the one Whittaker recorded this previous weekend transfer the needle within the UFC and Whittaker is a fighter who strikes the needle.
Whittaker vs. Adesanya III Nice Substitute From Dwell Gate Standpoint
Whereas the UFC has had a tough go of it in relation to cancelled fights on marquee occasions of late, having Robert Whittaker function the doable substitute for the Aug. 17 headliner in Australia looks as if an superior concept. Because it stands now, UFC 305 is slated to be headlined by a middleweight title combat pitting champion Dricus du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) towards challenger and No. 2 contender Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC).
On condition that Adesanya is from New Zealand, Australia’s easternmost neighboring nation, if du Plessis is pressured to withdraw from UFC 305, the promotion can plug “The Final Stylebender” in simply and nonetheless promote out the pay-per-view. Two fighters from neighboring international locations battling for a title.
The storylines virtually write themselves right here. Whether or not or not the combat takes place stays to be seen.
Ultimate Ideas: All in All, a Profitable Evening
On the core, UFC on ABC 6 was an awesome night for its first present in Saudi Arabia. Dana White talked about in a reside interview with Jon Anik after the primary occasion’s conclusion that Saturday’s card was solely the start.
“Clearly, [this was] our first time within the kingdom and my first time right here,” the UFC CEO talked about to a nationwide tv viewers. “It was an awesome expertise. We’re trying ahead to the subsequent one.”
The UFC is at present focusing on a return to Saudi Arabia throughout early 2025. You solely get one try to make a very good first impression. For the UFC, their first impression in Saudi Arabia was unbelievable.
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