Abu Dhabi: As anticipation grows ahead of UFC® 280: OLIVEIRA vs MAKHACHEV, for two fighters on the card the event in Abu Dhabi is extra special.
 
Belal Muhammad and Beneil Dariush both have significant links to the region and have each spoken about their pride in having roots in the Middle East – and it will be a significant night in the careers of both men when they appear at the Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on October 22.
 
Muhammad’s parents were both born in Palestine and this is something very dear to his heart. Born in Chicago, he has never wavered from demonstrating his pride in his heritage. The welterweight has stated on numerous occasions that he has Palestinian blood in his veins and how he feels the support of the Palestinian people each and every time he enters the Octagon®.
 
This will be the second time Muhammad fights in Abu Dhabi, previously picked up a performance of the night bonus in defeating Takashi Sato via third round submission back in 2019. This time around he takes on American Sean Brady, in a pivotal welterweight clash. Muhammad is undefeated in his last eight fights, and currently ranked fifth in the division – with his eyes firmly set on being in title discussions in the near future – a win in the UAE would take him one step closer to that goal.
 
Dariush was born in Iran, and grew up in the country before emigrating to the US with the rest of his family at the age of nine – and still holds the country of his roots in high regard. 
 
He has spoken previously of his desire to see MMA grow in Iran, and he is certainly a role model for that growth. A country blessed with huge wrestling talent, the success of Dariush is certainly helping grow the sport.
 
Currently ranked sixth in the super-competitive lightweight division, he comes to Abu Dhabi on the back of a seven-fight win streak including a standout win over Tony Ferguson in his last outing. This will be the second time Dariush fights in Abu Dhabi, having been on the card back in 2014 when the promotion visited the UAE for just the second time. 
 
On October 22, he will take on exciting Polish prospect Mateusz Gamrot in the UAE capital, with a win helping reinforce his argument to enter the top-five lightweights and muscle his way into the title shake up in a division set to crown a new king when Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev meet in the event headliner. 
 
 
UFC® 280: OLIVEIRA vs MAKHACHEV will be the latest event held in the UAE capital as part of the partnership between the UFC, and the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) which began in 2019.   
  
October will also see the return of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week running from October 17 -23, anchored by UFC® 280 and consisting of other sports and entertainment ancillary events, powered by Flash Entertainment. 
  
ENDS