TOPURIA vs HOLLOWAY on the horizon, excitement is building for the highly anticipated featherweight title fight, as champion Ilia Topuria defends his belt against no. 2-ranked Max Holloway. Set for October 26 at Yas Island’s Etihad Arena, fans arriving in the UAE capital can look forward to seven days of immersive activities and experiences as part of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, which kicks off on October 21.
UFC and Experience Abu Dhabi have confirmed a diverse range of activities and events for the annual week-long celebration of combat sports.Fans get the chance to see their favourite UFC athletes up close as they showcase their technical skills during the UFC’s Open Workouts on October 23 at Yas Mall. The following day, fans can attend the hotly anticipated Press Conference at Etihad Arena. Providing fans a rare opportunity to hear from the headliners and top contenders of UFC® 308 as they discuss their upcoming matchups, the press conferences often set the narratives ahead of fight night.
The excitement continues on October 25, as the UFC Ceremonial Weigh-ins take place. Held as ever at Etihad Arena, the event will enable fans to see fighters step onto the scale and face-off one last time before entering the Octagon®.
Running from October 21-27 at Yas Mall and from October 23-27 at Yas Bay, the UFC Fan Experience will be free and open to the public, providing a must-attend opportunity for any UFC enthusiast. Fans can dive into fight week with fan zones that feature Athlete Meet and Greets, and interactive UFC activations and exhibits.
Marking a significant milestone in the capital, Abu Dhabi Showdown Week will also host Power Slap’s first international event.POWER SLAP 9: Da Crazy Hawaiian vs Dumpling takes place on Thursday October 24 at Space 42 Arena, Raha Beach.
The week’s excitement will be further heightened by two must-see combat sports events. On October22, UAE Warriors will return with an action-packed card featuring top regional talent at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, before the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship (ADXC) returns for its fifth edition at Mubadala Arena on October 25, focusing on submission grappling.
For those seeking some laughter, Abu Dhabi Showdown Week will also feature a special Comedy Night on October 27, with American funnyman Matt Rife bringing his Problemattic World Tour to the Etihad Arena. Rife’s show promises plenty of laughs, adding another layer of entertainment to an action-packed week.In addition to the comedy night, Abu Dhabi Showdown Week will also offer a pair of music concerts from 1990sfavourites Backstreet Boys at Etihad Arena and Take That at Etihad Park on October 23 and 25 respectively.
