The standard of competition is getting stronger and stronger with each fight event that takes place, and that’s something that is clearly evident with the UFC Fight Night card that has been scheduled for August 3.
The promotion will return to Abu Dhabi once again as the Middle East continues to look to make itself the #1 destination for combat sports, with a stacked card having been complied for that night’s entertainment.
A total of 14 big bouts have been pencilled to take place inside the Octagon, with big names filling it out from start to end.
Although there isn’t a championship fight being held, the field is stacked with talented athletes.
Of course, all eyes will be on the headline fight of this upcoming event, with Cory Sandhagen taking on the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. However, wherever you look, there are a plethora of big names that will be stepping inside the Octagon and looking to fight their way to the top.
The 14 bouts that are scheduled to take place are:
Of the 28 fighters on the card, three will enter UFC Fight Night undefeated. Umar Nermagomedov (17-0), Azamat Murzakanov (13-0) and Victoria Dudakova (8-0) will all be looking to keep their spotless records unblemished in Abu Dhabi.
While there will be plenty of interest in many of the other names on the card this August due to their status, it’s impossible to deny the fact that many will be tuning in to watch Cory Sandhagen v Umar Nurmagomedov.
The two fighters are among the very best bantamweights in the world, with the American ranking higher than the Russian. However, he will need to be at his very best if he is to win the fight.
As mentioned, Nurmagomedov is unbeaten in 17 fights thus far in his career, and looks well on the way to replicate what his cousin, Khabib, had managed to achieve in the sport. Sandhagen may have had more fights than Nurmagomedov, but he has lost those four additional bouts, giving him a record that reads 17-4.
Prior to the fight, the bookies have already released their odds, with those offering the best MMA betting markets providing punters with something to think about ahead of the bout.
Currently, the Russian is a clear favorite to win in the Octagon when the pair meet, with odds of 1.35 compared to the American’s chance of winning at 3.15. With the vast majority of Nurmagomedov’s wins coming by way of decision, it wouldn’t be a surprise if this is the winning method come August 3. Interestingly, Sandhagen’s four defeats have involved three decisions, with the other coming by way of submission.
As highlighted, there are many big-named veteran stars of UFC on the card at UFC Fight Night all set to be involved. This will make the event more appealing to fans worldwide, but there might be some whom may not be all that interested in the fights that are being held.
The co-main event is between Nick Diaz and Vicente Luque, with the former among one of the icons of the sport. However, it’s possible to argue that he has done his time in the Octagon and retirement is perhaps edging closer for the 40-year-old American.
Diaz lost in his return fight in 2021 to Robbie Lawler after being forced to retire in that bout, adding to a stretch of two defeats before that (and a no-contest). In his first fight on almost three years, he will face a man eight years younger than him, with much more recent fight experience (despite a recent loss). It’s unsurprising not many are backing Diaz to pull a victory off in this contest.
Elsewhere, we’ll see the likes of Tony Ferguson looking to roll back the years, while Mackenzie Dern v Lupita Godinez will look to put the women back into the spotlight at the strawweight division.