Usman to make UFC Abu Dhabi showing

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will meet fans in Abu Dhabi this week as part of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, ahead of UFC 333 on Saturday.

The promotion is staging two UFC Fan Experiences at Etihad Arena and other venues, featuring public workouts, meet-and-greets and live events. Usman will be at Yas Mall on Wednesday alongside featherweight contender Jean Silva and Moroccan featherweight Marwan Rahiki.

The session follows the public workouts of the main-event fighters, Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev, and the co-main eventers, Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against Evloev, while Dvalishvili will try to reclaim the bantamweight belt he lost to Yan in December.

Usman has fond memories of the city. “The Nigerian Nightmare” successfully defended his welterweight title against Jorge Masvidal on Fight Island in July 2020.

“Abu Dhabi has always been a special place for me and for UFC. I have some great memories of competing here, and the fans always bring incredible energy,” Usman said.

“I am excited to be back, meet the fans and be part of another huge week for UFC in Abu Dhabi.”

On Friday, fans can meet bantamweight contender Song Yadong, lightweight Mauricio Ruffy and Palestinian-American heavyweight Sean Sharaf at Yas Bay Waterfront from 7pm. Yadong hopes to face the winner of the Yan-Dvalishvili fight.

UFC 333 press conferences will hold on Thursday at Etihad Arena from 4pm to 5.30pm, and fans can attend for free. The closed official weigh-ins are at 8am on Friday, followed by public ceremonial weigh-ins at Etihad Arena from 4pm to 6.30pm. Former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and Rahiki will take part in a live Q&A before then.

Power Slap 25 also takes place on Friday at Space42 Arena, headlined by a super heavyweight title rematch between Dayne Viernes and Vasilii Kamotskii.

UFC 333 holds on Saturday, October 24. The preliminary card starts around 6pm UAE time, with the main card expected around 10pm.