UFC to stage its first card in Saudi Arabia in 2024

Originally published at UFC to stage its first card in Saudi Arabia in 2024

The UFC will stage its first event in Saudi Arabia next year.

The promotion has announced its debut in the country on Saturday, March 2, 2024, for a Fight Night event.

لأول مرة في المملكة.. ليلة تاريخية استثنائية ضمن موسم الرياض 😍🔥🇸🇦

بطولة UFC Fight Night يوم ٢ مارس بالتعاون مع @ufc 😎

For the first time in the Kingdom.. a historical exceptional night within Riyadh Season 😍🔥🇸🇦

On 2nd of March, a UFC Fight Night in collaboration with… pic.twitter.com/at9qlCUZRU

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) October 11, 2023

The UFC is partnering with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority for the show, which is also in a ten-year pact with WWE to hold two shows per year.

Endeavor & TKO CEO Ari Emanuel has had a complex relationship with Saudi Arabia, which included the mogul returning a $400 million investment from the country in 2019 after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018.

Saudi Arabia will be hosting the upcoming heavyweight boxing fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou on October 28 and WWE’s Crown Jewel event the following weekend.

No fights have been announced for the March 2024 debut in Saudi Arabia.

If the site fee is good enough, TKO will go anywhere. The 5 year deal (unless it was renewed), was set to finish 2023 so maybe they are done with Abu Dhabi