The organising committee of the UAE Warriors Mixed Martial Arts tournament series has announced that the 72nd international edition will be held on July 23 at Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi, as part of the Abu Dhabi Challenge Week programme, which also includes UFC events. The announcement underscores Abu Dhabi's standing as a leading global destination for mixed martial arts.
The event, organised by Palms Sports, will feature an elite lineup of top fighters from around the world in an eagerly anticipated evening comprising a number of high-stakes bouts, headlined by two title fights.
In the main event, champion Asaf Churilov of Kyrgyzstan will defend his bantamweight title against Australian fighter Reece McLaren, who holds a professional record of 19 wins and 9 losses.
The co-main event will feature a compelling clash between Iraqi fighter Ali Taleb — the former bantamweight champion and 2024 PFL MENA champion, who carries a professional record of 12 wins and 2 losses — and South African fighter Peter Daniso, a former Road to UFC participant with a record of 9 wins and 4 losses.
The fight card also includes former LFA middleweight champion Russian fighter Shamidkhan Magomedov, who holds a professional record of 11 wins and 1 loss, alongside a roster of prominent fighters from various countries around the world.
Fouad Darwish, chairman of the UAE Warriors organising committee, said that reaching the 72nd edition reflects the sustained growth the tournament has achieved over the years and its status among the foremost MMA platforms in the region and the world.
He noted that holding the event during Abu Dhabi Challenge Week gives fighters the opportunity to perform during one of the most important periods on the global combat sports calendar.