Star athletes gear up for UFC 242 with open workouts in Abu Dhabi

The superstars of UFC 242: Khabib vs Poirier conducted a sensational open workout at Yas Mall on Wednesday, as mixed martial arts fans flocked to one of the many highlight events of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week — the seven-day mixed martial arts and entertainment festival organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).

Six athletes from this Saturday’s star-studded fight card - including main event competitors Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier — took time out from their preparations to get up close with fans from across the UAE.

Nurmagomedov and Poirier, who top the bill for Saturday’s mega event at The Arena — the new, purpose-built indoor venue on Yas Island — were joined by Paul Felder, Edson Barboza, Islam Makhachev and Joanne Calderwood in a series of 20-minute workouts hosted by former UFC welterweight star, and UFC competitor Dan Hardy.

Abu Dhabi Showdown Week continues on Thursday when the three-day Abu Dhabi Sports and Fitness Expo gets underway at du Forum on Yas Island.

Other UFC stars will also be making appearances across Abu Dhabi, with guest athlete bantamweight Henry ‘The Messenger’ Cejudo at Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, middleweight Kevin Gastelum at Marina Mall, welterweight Kamaru ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Usman at Al Wahda Mall, and flyweight Joseph Benavidez at Mushrif Mall. All appearances are from 6-7pm at their respective locations. Navaneeth Sudhakaran, General Manager, Al Wahda Mall said, “Al Wahda Mall is honoured to align itself with the excellence of this inaugural event.”

“With over 30-million annual visitors to its 3.3 million square foot landmark, Al Wahda Mall is ready to enrich the Capital’s ever-growing calendar of unique activities with highly-engaged people power.

“As leading shopping destination, Al Wahda Mall places significant importance on fitness and wellbeing. In anticipation of guests that will throng to its iconic premises with bated breath, Al Wahda Mall upholds its promise to not just ‘Have it All’ but ‘Have it All and More’.

“We encourage fitness fans to enjoy the thrilling challenges, workshops and activations being set up and make the most of this fantastic and exclusive gathering held at our mall,” added Navaneeth.

Meanwhile, Khalidiyah Mall welcomed American professional mixed martial artist and former professional full-contact kickboxer Stephen Thompson and his fans as part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Showdown Week’s UFC activations across the Capital. Shoppers enjoyed to a meet and greet with the athlete and enjoyed fitness challenge activations and photo opportunities with a Replica UFC Championship Belt.

Mayank M Pal, Mall Manager at Khalidiyah Mall said: “Khalidiyah Mall is thrilled to have hosted Stephen (Thompson) during Abu Dhabi Showdown Week. We are glad fitness fans enjoyed the challenges, workshops and activations and hope they had a memorable experience overall.”

The groundbreaking new partnership was signed in April between UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation, and the Department of Culture and Tourism -- Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) sees the sport’s highly anticipated return to the Capital after five years.

“We are making a long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi because we have had great success in that market,” said UFC President Dana White.

“The demand from our fans to bring UFC back to Abu Dhabi has been overwhelming, and over the next five years, DCT Abu Dhabi will help us deliver some spectacular UFC championship fights to the UAE.”

As a part of festivities, a two-day Jiu-Jitsu tournament was also held at the Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi which concluded on Tuesday with the eight finalists demonstrating a high level of technical ability across finals.

The UAE’s jiu-jitsu stars took the limelight on finals day, with Sultan Al Shamsi and Khalid Al Ameri enthralling the crowd in a highly-technical match, with the former coming out on top to take gold.