Ultimate Fighting Championship set to return to Abu Dhabi in 2011
The Ultimate Fighting Championship will make its return to the Middle East when UFC 128 is presented on 19 March 2011 at the Ferrari World Arena in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United
Arab Emirates.
The UFC held its first event in Abu Dhabi, UFC 112, in the same arena in April of this year. From all reports, it appears that the main event will be a light heavyweight bout between
champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and challenger “Suga” Rashad Evans.
Evans has expressed frustration over the long wait for his shot at Rua and the title, “It’s just frustrating, I am a fighter and I need to make a living doing this, but at the same time
it’s about getting the gold,” Evans told ESPN. “But if the gold is something that I’m not going to get an opportunity to fight for then I have to face that possibility and move forward and do some other things.”
Evans’ last fight was against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in May 2010. Evans took the bout by unanimous decision and earned a shot at the title with the win.
The delay in the fight is due to the fact that Rua is recovering from knee surgery he underwent after defeating Lyoto Machida for the title in May of this year. Rua recently spoke to Tatame
magazine, and had this to say about his rehab, “…Everything’s perfect, going like we expected it to. The doctor told me that from December on I can train harder.”
When the UFC does return to Abu Dhabi, the promotion will look to put the debacle of the UFC 112 main event behind them. In that fight, UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva taunted,
mocked and laughed at his opponent Demian Maia inside the Octagon.
Silva’s performance left UFC president, Dana White furious. In a post-fight interview, White stated, “I don’t think I have ever been more embarrassed in the 10 years of being in this business.
It was the most horrible thing I have ever seen.”
At this time, no other fights are rumoured for UFC 128.
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