Emirati UFC fighter Yahya ready to face Fernandes

Abu Dhabi: Mohammad Yahya, the first Emirati to compete in the UFC, will make his return to the Octagon to take on Brazilian Kaue Fernandes on August 3 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Yahya made history last year when he signed with the world’s largest mixed martial arts organisation and debuted in the UAE capital in October at UFC 294: Makhachev vs vs. Volkanovski 2.

The 30-year-old will now return to fight in front of his home fans as he takes on Kaue Fernandes in a lightweight battle at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Nurmagomedov.

Yahya holds an overall record of 12-4 and has extensive experience fighting in the region — particularly with UAE Warriors.

Twelve of his sixteen professional fights have taken place in the UAE and he can expect another strong backing from his home crowd. He will be looking to earn his first win in the UFC in arguably the organisation’s most competitive division.

Brazil’s Fernandes will also be making his second UFC appearance this August. The 29-year-old holds an 8-2 record, and like Yahya will be looking for his first win inside the Octagon.

The night will be headlined by a pivotal clash in the bantamweight division as American Cory Sandhagen takes on undefeated Russian Umar Nurmagomedov. Both fighters will be familiar to the Abu Dhabi fans having fought in the Emirate previously.

No.2 ranked Sandhagen has fought on Yas Island twice - picking up bonuses on both occasions - firstly a performance of the night in defeating Marlon Moraes in 2020, followed up with a fight of the night for his battle with Petr Yan for the interim bantamweight title a year later.

Nurmagomedov (17-0), currently ranked No.10 in the division, made his UFC debut in Abu Dhabi, securing a performance of the night bonus in stopping Sergey Morozov.

He has gone on to win four further fights and is considered one of the rising stars in the 135lbs class.

The Fight Night will represent the organisation’s 19th event held in the emirate since debuting there in 2010.

The new event marks a significant milestone as the UFC will stage three events in the Gulf this year. This includes the promotion’s inaugural Fight Night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 22, which is part of a broader partnership extension signed last October between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the UFC.

Under this agreement, which extends through 2028, the UFC is committed to holding one numbered event annually in the UAE capital. In addition to this, the deal also ensures the organization of multiple Fight Nights across the Mena region.

This strategic partnership underscores the growing popularity and influence of UFC in the region, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s pivotal role in hosting premier sporting events. By bringing high-caliber UFC events to the Gulf, the agreement not only boosts local tourism and economy but also elevates the region’s standing in the global sports community.