June Fight Night: Khamzat Chimaev v Robert Whittaker Confirmed as Main Event in Saudi Arabia

This fight is poised to be the main event as the UFC makes its debut in the Kingdom on the 22nd June

Khamzat Chimaev, originally from Chechnya, is set to compete against Robert Whittaker in a crucial middleweight title eliminator in Saudi Arabia on June 22. This match is poised to be the main event as the UFC makes its debut in the Kingdom that night.

At 29 years old and with an impressive record of 13 victories with no losses, Chimaev is stepping into the octagon for what may be his most demanding fight to date, taking on Whittaker, a seasoned fighter from Australia and a former champion in the division.

The victor of this bout is slated to go up against the current champion, Dricus du Plessis from South Africa, later in the year.

Additionally, the event will feature a heavyweight fight between Russian fighters Alexander Volkov and Sergei Pavlovich as part of the undercard.

Originally planned for March, this UFC event marks the second significant MMA event in Saudi Arabia in 2024, following the Professional Fighters League (PFL), which hosted its inaugural fight night in the region in February.

Saudi Arabia's continued investment in hosting major MMA events is part of a broader trend of investing heavily in international sports, despite facing ongoing international criticism for attempting to shift the focus away from its human rights issues through sports.

While Saudi Arabia seems to be at the epicentre of UFC, there are rumours that the UK will host a numbered event in the very near future.

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