Abu Dhabi may soon announce the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the Middle East.
The announcement is expected during the UFC 112 conference on April 10 during which announcement of three top matches, which includes two championship bouts, shall also be made.
Marshall Zelaznik, the UFC's Managing Director of International Expansion said, "We're going to have a big press conference in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, with our new partners from the region, Flash. Zuffa CEO, Lorenzo Fertitta and myself will be there with some of the biggest names on the UFC roster."
Anderson Silva (25-4), ranked No. 1 in the Yahoo Sports pound-for-pound rankings and the middleweight champion shall, on his return, defend his title against former light heavyweight champion, Vitor Belfort (19-8). Due to the elbow surgery Silva has not fought Forrest Griffin since his win over him in August 8.
B. J. Penn (15-5-1), ranked No. 4 is expected to defend his lightweight title against Frankie Edgar (12-1).
The third main match shall be the battle of legends, between the two-time welterweight champion Matt Hughes (44-7), 36 years old and Renzo Gracie (13-6-1).
On May 27, 2006, in the biggest pay-per-view event in UFC history, in Los Angeles, Hughes won over Renzo's first cousin, Royce Gracie.
Perhaps it is because of Renzo Gracie that the show is taking place in Abu Dhabi as the victory of Renzo Gracie over Frank Shamrock, in the first MMA event on Showtime, was disqualified.
Gracie has also been the jiu-jitsu instructor for Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ruler of the country from 1966-2004. Sheik Tahnoon loved the sport and so much so that in 1998 he got many of the world's best submission fighters in Abu Dhabi for the first Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Fighting Championship.
The Sheikh has attended a number of UFC events and during January 11 Flash Entertainment, wing of the Abu Dhabi government, purchased 10 percent ownership in Zuffa, the parent company of UFC.
As there is no indoor arena for the event the event shall take place outdoors.
