UFC 333 stays in Abu Dhabi: Dana White rules out a Plan B despite security concerns
After the attacks on Riyadh, White was asked whether the UFC had contingency plans. His answer: "Nope. We're going." Two titles are on the line on October 24.
Archive image · Photo: Andrius Petrucenia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Despite the tense security situation in the Gulf, the UFC is sticking with UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. Asked whether there were contingency plans for the October 24 event at Etihad Arena, UFC CEO Dana White said after the Contender Series season finale in Las Vegas: "Nope. We're going." The question followed missile and drone attacks on the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Asked whether he had spoken with the authorities in Abu Dhabi, White held his line: "We go." He will be there himself, White said. Slap league Power Slap and wrestling promotion WWE, which like the UFC belong to TKO, also plan events in Abu Dhabi. According to MiddleEasy, White named no alternative venue or replacement date.
In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski defends the featherweight title against unbeaten Movsar Evloev. In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili meet for a third time – each has won once so far.