On June 22, 2024, the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; a historic UFC event headlined between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev will take place. This event marks a significant milestone in the UFC’s expansion into the Middle East; especially Saudi Arabia. UFC President Dana White has also been publicly adamant at the success of hosting events at Saudi Arabia.
“We want to deliver, and if we’re going to Saudi Arabia at the level that these guys do things, and it’s a Fight Night. “But we want to make it the best Fight Night we’ve ever done.” – Dana White.
Consequently, the line up the UFC has conjured for this fight card; has been nothing short of star studded. But first starting off with the main event…
Main Event: Whittaker vs. Chimaev
The main event features former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker taking on rising star Khamzat Chimaev. Whittaker, known for his striking and resilience, faces a formidable opponent in Chimaev, whose wrestling and aggressive style have made him a fan favourite. This bout promises to be a thrilling clash of styles and the winner will be promised a title shot thereafter.
Main Card
The undercard is stacked with talent, check out the all the exciting matchups below.
–Sergei Pavlovich vs Alexander Volkov: A heavyweight bout featuring two Russian goliaths, looking to edge closer to title contention for the first time.
– Johnny Walker vs. Volkan Oezdemir: A light heavyweight clash with both men trying to shift from their gatekeeper status.
– Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez: Both men are looking to bounce off from losses, and are both excellent strikers with massive KO, a firework filled for sure.
Shara Magomedov vs. Joilton Lutterbach: Can star undefeated Shara show he is a potential champion at middleweight and defeat 38-10 veteran; Joilton Lutterbach?
Prelims
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Brendson Ribeiro
Farid Basharat vs. Montel Jackson
Abu Azaitar vs. Denis Tiuliulin
Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Nicolas Dalby
Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jared Gordon
Kyung Ho Kang vs. Muin Gafurov
Xiao Long vs. Lee Chang Ho
Significance of the Event
This UFC event is part of a broader strategy by Saudi Arabia to position itself as a global hub for combat sports. The kingdom’s investment in events like this is a key component of its Vision 2030 initiative, aimed at diversifying its economy and enhancing its international image.
Riyadh Season Partnership

The event is sponsored by Riyadh Season, an annual sports and entertainment festival. This partnership highlights Saudi Arabia’s commitment to hosting world-class sporting events and attracting international attention.
“We are working with everyone to make Riyadh one of the biggest cities around the world in MMA”- Turki Al-Sheikh (Chairman of general entertainment authority)
UFC Saudi Arabia has become a statement of intent from a nation rapidly becoming a key player in the global sports arena. With high-profile fighters and a strategic location, this event is set to be a landmark moment in the UFC’s history as well as Saudi Arabia.
How to purchase tickets at UFC Saudi Arabia?
If you wish to purchase tickets please go to webook.com, tickets are limited though, so purchase well in advance to avoid disappointment. Full link is below.
https://webook.com/en/events/ufc-fight-night-tickets