UFC President Dana White dropped some major news on Wednesday evening, sending the MMA world into a frenzy of excitement. The lightweight title will be up for grabs at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, as the reigning champ, Islam Makhachev, is set to defend his belt in a highly-anticipated rematch against Charles “Do-Bronx” Oliveira. The two clashed last year at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, where Makhachev submitted Oliveira to claim the title.
Both fighters have been on a tear since their last showdown. After UFC 280, Makhachev put his belt on the line against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284, and it turned out to be one of the most spectacular fights of 2023 so far. Oliveira, on the other hand, showcased his devastating knockout power with a first-round finish over Beneil Dariush at UFC 289.
But that’s not all! White had more in store for fight fans as he revealed other exciting matchups on the UFC 294 card. One of the most highly anticipated clashes features Paulo Costa taking on Khamzat Chimaev. Costa proved his mettle with a memorable victory over former champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 278, and now he aims to stop Chimaev’s ascent up the middleweight rankings. Chimaev, undefeated since his victory over Kevin Holland last September, believes that a win over Costa will make a bold statement about his contender status at 185 pounds.
As if the card couldn’t get any better, White also disclosed that Ikram Aliskerov, Costa’s original opponent for UFC 291, will square off against the 13th-ranked middleweight, Nassourdine Imavov, at UFC 294.
UFC 294 is shaping up to be an absolute blockbuster, and fight fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting this incredible event set to take place in Abu Dhabi. With high-stakes rematches and thrilling clashes between rising stars, this card promises to deliver fireworks inside the Octagon. As we countdown the days to the event, the anticipation and excitement continue to build for what could be one of the most memorable fight nights in UFC history.
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