The rumors have finally turned out to be true. After weeks of uncertainty surrounding the event, further fueled by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the UFC has officially confirmed its return to Saudi Arabia. The promotion made the announcement during the broadcast of UFC Vegas 124, putting an end to speculation about the event.
UFC Saudi Arabia is scheduled for December 5 at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, with Israel Adesanya set to headline against rising middleweight contender Shara Magomedov. For Adesanya, this could be one of the most important fights of his career.
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The former two-time middleweight champion is going through the toughest stretch of his UFC run, having suffered four consecutive defeats. His most recent setback came against Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle, leaving him with plenty to prove as he looks to remain relevant in the 185-pound division.
The matchup also marks a new chapter for Adesanya outside the Octagon. It will be his first UFC appearance since parting ways with his longtime gym, City Kickboxing, in July earlier this year.
Magomedov, on the other hand, has been chasing this matchup for quite some time. The Russian called out Adesanya after defeating Michel Pereira at UFC Baku in June. That victory improved his UFC record to six wins and marked his second consecutive victory inside the Octagon.
Although Michael Page handed him a convincing defeat in one of his biggest tests, Magomedov has since bounced back with victories over Marc-Andre Barriault and Pereira. A win over a former champion like Adesanya would undoubtedly be the biggest statement of his UFC career.
Ian Garry and Yaroslav Amosov Set for Five-Round Co-Main Event at UFC Saudi Arabia
The co-main event also promises plenty of action, with Ian Garry set to take on Yaroslav Amosov in a five-round welterweight contest. Amosov enters the matchup with an impressive 30-1 professional record, although this will be only his third appearance in the UFC.
The 33-year-old has made an excellent start to his Octagon career, picking up wins over Neil Magny and Joel Alvarez since joining the promotion in 2025. Before making the move to the UFC, the Ukrainian established himself as one of the best welterweights outside the promotion.
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He went 8-1 in Bellator, captured its welterweight championship, and also became widely recognized for his service to Ukraine during the country’s war with Russia. Meanwhile, Garry will be looking to get back on track following his unsuccessful welterweight title challenge against Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 in Philadelphia.
The Irishman gave the Dagestani champion a run for his money, but Makhachev ultimately secured a unanimous decision victory, extending his UFC winning streak to 17 fights. At just 28 years old, Garry still has plenty of time to work his way back into title contention.
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However, beating someone with Amosov’s credentials would be a significant statement. The Ukrainian is widely viewed as a potential future title contender, making this a particularly important matchup for both men.
UFC Saudi Arabia Full Fight Card
- Israel Adesanya vs. Shara Magomedov
- Yaroslav Amosov vs. Ian Machado Garry
- Mario Pinto vs. Serghei Spivac
- Levan Chokheli vs. Islam Dulatov
- Akbar Abdullaev vs. Mairon Santos
- Ion Cutelaba vs. Magomed Tuchalov
- Jafel Filho vs. Bruno Silva
- Matthieu Duclos vs. Modestino Rodrigues
- Abdul Hussein vs. Hecher Sosa
- Ivan Gnizditskiy vs. Uran Satybaldiev
- JunYong Park vs. Marco Tulio
- Pavel Andrusca vs. Mahammadali Osmanli
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
