The event takes place April 11 at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and ArabsMMA crew will be around to cover the event for the first time. The entire card streams on UFC Fight Pass.
In the heavyweight headliner, former interim champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (34-8-1 MMA, 5-4 UFC) returns from a 10-month layoff to meet Roy Nelson (19-9 MMA, 6-5 UFC). Both vets look to rebound from losses.
Nogueira will be fighting in front of a huge Brazilian fan base present in Abu Dhabi and will also have support from all Team Nogueira Dubai members who will surely be around to cheer for the boss.
In the featherweight co-headliner, longtime UFC fighter Clay Guida (30-14 MMA, 10-8 UFC) takes on recent promotional newcomer and Japanese vet Tatsuya Kawajiri (33-7-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) who comes of a UFC debut submission win against Sean Soriano UFC Fight Night 34 – Saffiedine vs. Lim.
Also on the main card are welterweights Ryan LaFlare (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) vs. John Howard (22-8 MMA, 6-3 UFC) and lightweights Ramsey Nijem (9-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) who will be the crowd favorite as the only fighter with Arab origin on the UFC Main card. He will be facing Beneil Dariush (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC).
The full UFC Fight Night 39 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 2 p.m. ET)
- Roy Nelson vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
- Clay Guida vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
- John Howard vs. Ryan LaFlare
- Beneil Dariush vs. Ramsey Nijem
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 11:30 a.m. ET)
- Daniel Omielanczuk vs. Jared Rosholt
- Johnny Bedford vs. Rani Yahya
- Thales Leites vs. Trevor Smith
- Chris Camozzi vs. Andrew Craig
- Dustin Ortiz vs. Alptekin Ozkilic
- Jim Alers vs. Alan Omer
For more on UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, stay tuned to ArabsMMA.com
