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The excitement surrounding the UFC's inaugural event in Saudi Arabia hit a temporary snag as reports suggest the much-anticipated fight night, originally set for March 2 in Riyadh, might be postponed until June. The news, unveiled by Ariel Helwani on "The MMA Hour," points to Saudi Arabia's quest for a more star-studded card than initially offered by the UFC.
Sources reveal that the host country sought a deeper and more high-profile lineup, prompting the delay. In a surprising revelation, it was disclosed that Saudi Arabia had invested a substantial $20 million site fee for the event, emphasizing the stakes involved in ensuring a top-notch fight night experience.
As of now, the UFC has not officially confirmed any alterations to the event date, leaving fighters and their teams in suspense. No notifications regarding potential changes had been issued as of Monday afternoon, creating an air of uncertainty around the fate of the fights initially scheduled for March 2.
Questions linger about whether the matches will proceed at a different location or if an entirely new set of dates will be earmarked for the UFC Saudi Arabia debut. The postponement, if confirmed, will reschedule the showdown between:
Muhammad Mokaev vs. Alex Perez
Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Shamil Gaziev
Eryk Anders vs. Jamie Pickett
Joel Alvarez vs. Ludovit Klein
Javid Basharat vs. Aiemann Zahabi
Yanis Ghemmouri vs. Vinicius Oliveira
Brendon Marotte vs. Mohammad Yahya
Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady vs. Loik Radzhabov
The potential delay adds a twist to Saudi Arabia's MMA landscape, considering the already-packed schedule with a Bellator vs. PFL pay-per-view on Feb. 24 and the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou boxing spectacle set for March 8.
Amid the uncertainty, fight fans are left waiting for the UFC to unveil its revised plans for the Saudi Arabian debut. As the stakes remain high, the combat sports world eagerly anticipates a revamped event that lives up to the expectations set by the substantial investment from the host nation.