UFC
Ultimate Fight Challenge and Mixed Martial Arts could come to Abu Dhabi in the near future.
Abu Dhabi: Ultimate Fight Challenge (UFC) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans in the region will be in for a knockout when the series makes its debut in the near future, after UFC President Dana White expressed his interest in hosting an international event in the UAE capital.
White visited Abu Dhabi "on business" but flew back to Philadelphia in the United States for UFC 101, which starts on Saturday.
Any form of blood sport is a major draw and with White suggesting Abu Dhabi as a step in the right direction for the pay-per-view TV-hit worldwide, there is little doubt UFC organisers are eyeing the UAE capital with some seriousness.
Using the networking tool Twitter to connect with UFC's global audience, White said: "[I've] just landed in Philly [Philadelphia]. Abu Dhabi is amazing, if we do a fight there make plans to go. You have to see it!"
UFC combines mixed martial arts, boxing, wrestling and many other forms of contact sports, and is often referred to as "street-fighting". Once regarded as "human cock-fighting" by US Senator and one-time presidential candidate John McCain, the violence involved in the sport is immense.
However, the blood spilled on UFC mats hasn't gone to waste, with the series leapfrogging most other pay-per-view events, including boxing and ice-hockey.
Organisers and promoters have cleaned up the act since the sport was introduced a little over 10 years ago, but it still coughs up a bloody sight.
Under White's leadership, the sport is rebuilding its reputation and fights are now timed and classified into weight classes. Numerous rules to protect fighters have also been incorporated. The UFC notes on its website that no fighter has ever been seriously injured at an event.
Abu Dhabi: Ultimate Fight Challenge (UFC) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans in the region will be in for a knockout when the series makes its debut in the near future, after UFC President Dana White expressed his interest in hosting an international event in the UAE capital.
White visited Abu Dhabi "on business" but flew back to Philadelphia in the United States for UFC 101, which starts on Saturday.
Any form of blood sport is a major draw and with White suggesting Abu Dhabi as a step in the right direction for the pay-per-view TV-hit worldwide, there is little doubt UFC organisers are eyeing the UAE capital with some seriousness.
Using the networking tool Twitter to connect with UFC's global audience, White said: "[I've] just landed in Philly [Philadelphia]. Abu Dhabi is amazing, if we do a fight there make plans to go. You have to see it!"
UFC combines mixed martial arts, boxing, wrestling and many other forms of contact sports, and is often referred to as "street-fighting". Once regarded as "human cock-fighting" by US Senator and one-time presidential candidate John McCain, the violence involved in the sport is immense.
However, the blood spilled on UFC mats hasn't gone to waste, with the series leapfrogging most other pay-per-view events, including boxing and ice-hockey.
Organisers and promoters have cleaned up the act since the sport was introduced a little over 10 years ago, but it still coughs up a bloody sight.
Under White's leadership, the sport is rebuilding its reputation and fights are now timed and classified into weight classes. Numerous rules to protect fighters have also been incorporated. The UFC notes on its website that no fighter has ever been seriously injured at an event.
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