Report: UFC Saudi Arabia Event Postponed: 'They Want a Deeper Card'
The UFC's March 2024 event in Saudi Arabia is reportedly being postponed, with the new date being targeted for June. Ariel Helwani first reported the news on The MMA Hour, and the reason for the postponement was a weak card.
"I am being told via sources that the planned March 2nd event in Saudi Arabia is being postponed and the target is June," Helwani declared. "I was told that the reason for the postponement is because ... they want a more entertaining fight card --- they want a deeper card with bigger names on it, they weren't too pleased with what was being offered."
As of January 15, UFC's announced March 2 event in Saudi Arabia looks like this:
- Mohammad Mokaev vs. Alex Perez; Flyweight
- Eryk Anders vs. Jamie Pickett; Middleweight
- Vinicius Oliveira vs. Yanis Ghemmouri; Bantamweight
- Joel Alvarez vs. Ludovit Klein; Lightweight
- Javid Basharat vs. Aiemann Zahabi; Bantamweight
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Shamil Gaziev; Heavyweight
Despite some high-octane matchups with fighters like Joel Alvarez and Shamil Gaziev, the card lacks that star-studded appeal. Fans were hoping for big names such as Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev, but nobody seems to have anything booked. Makhachev has declared that he'll fight in June instead of March, which could have contributed to the rebooking.
Whether the March 2 card will be moved or cancelled altogether remains yet to be seen. This did happen in 2023 when UFC Shanghai was cancelled and brought back to Vegas, so there is a chance that the announced Saudi Arabia card will end up at the UFC Apex.
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