Dubai high-octane MMA marquee event

Article posted by Coliseum, December 3^rd, 2024

Image: Coliseum GSVA

Dubai (UAE) is set to host the Champions Series World Title event following the signing of a groundbreaking multiyear partnership between the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

‘pflmma.com’ stated that the event will take place on January 25^th, 2025 at the 17,000-capacity Coca-Cola Arena located in Dubai’s City Walk and will be headlined by the returning ‘Pride of Dagestan’(Republic of Russia) – the undefeated Bellator Lightweight (an American mixed martial arts promotion) World Champion Usman Nurmagomedov (Russian mixed martial artist) (18-0). He will look to defend his title against Ireland’s Paul ‘Big News’ Hughes (Irish professional mixed martial artist) (13-1) who is coming off the biggest victory of his MMA career at the PFL ‘Battle of the Giants’ after defeating AJ McKee (American professional mixed martial artist).

With the ultimate vision of making Dubai the world’s leading commercial center, investment hub and tourism destination, Dubai (UAE)-based the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is mandated to support the Government in positioning the Emirate as a major hub for global economy and tourism and in boosting the City’s economic and tourism competitiveness indicators in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of the Emirate’s economy and consolidate its position among the top three global Cities over the next decade.

The DET is the principal authority for planning, supervising, developing, and marketing Dubai’s business and tourism sectors. It is also responsible for licensing and classifying all types of businesses, including hotels, tour operators and travel agents.

The Dubai Sports Council is the official body responsible for the development of the sports sector in the Emirate. The DSC organizes and supports more than 400 events annually – not just top-notch sporting extravaganzas but also awards and conferences that promote excellence, creativity and innovation in the world of sports. The Council supervises the work of Dubai’s seven local sports clubs and takes active interest in encouraging the practice of physical activity in the society, especially among women and children, through programs and activities designed to create awareness about the importance of sport and physical activity and to make it a way of life for the community.

New York (US)-based the Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American mixed martial arts league founded by venture capitalist Donn Davis in 2017 and launched in 2018. It is the first major MMA (a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling, incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world) organization in which individual athletes competes in a regular season, post-season and championship rather than on a year-round basis.

‘pflmma.com’ further stated that the first-of-its-kind partnership will see the MMA world champions and the sport’s biggest stars from the PFL compete in the title fights as Dubai becomes a marquee destination for the best of MMA. The all other Champions Series events will now be co-branded as ‘Road to Dubai’ as each show culminates to the finale set in the new fight capital. As part of the PFL’s commitment to developing the sport of MMA in Dubai, the rising Emirati star fighters will now have a pathway to become the future PFL Champions.

Remarked His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, “We are pleased to cooperate with the Department of Economy and Tourism and the Professional Fighters League to attract and develop the talented athletes in martial arts. This agreement will be the beginning of creating a new generation of champions in sports who will raise the UAE’s flag in various international forums through launching various training programs and forming an Emirati martial arts team to bring them up to a standard of participation at international championships. Through this agreement, the Dubai Sports Council will provide all means of support to ensure the success of the first-of-its-kind International Martial Arts Championship Series (Road to Dubai) in the Middle East which represents a qualitative addition to the list of international sporting events and enhances sports tourism.”

Stressed Hareb, “This championship aims to attract a large number of young people and will receive wide attention from the public and the local and international media as organizing this international championship contributes to enhancing diversity in sports and enriching the list of rich sporting events hosted by Dubai throughout the year. This championship will be a successful model of cooperation and integration between the various sectors with the aim of enhancing the quality of life among all members of the society and consolidating Dubai’s position as a global destination for sports.”

Added Ahmed Al Khaja, head honcho of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, part of DET, “We are delighted to partner with the Dubai Sports Council and the Professional Fighters League to elevate Dubai as a global hub for mixed martial arts. This significant partnership is in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s status as a leading global City for business and leisure and is a testament to Dubai’s commitment to providing incredible experiences for both the athletes and the fans. We have no doubt that this partnership will be a knockout success. With the Champions Series finale in Dubai poised to draw international attention, we also look forward to showcasing the energy, diversity, excitement, and exceptional hospitality that our City has to offer. Furthermore, this action-packed series will keep our City at the forefront of combat sports helping to attract visitors from around the world who equally seek unrivaled sporting entertainment and destination experiences.”

Put in Pete Murray, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PFL, “The Professional Fighters League is proud to be the first organization to launch major global MMA events in Dubai. We are excited to partner with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council to stage annual mega events in the ‘City of Gold’ and develop the next generation of UAE champion fighters.”

Said Usman Nurmagomedov, “I am always excited to challenge myself against the best athletes and I view Paul Hughes as a worthy opponent. I’m proud to be the first MMA main event in Dubai history.”

Stated Paul Hughes, “The Championship has always been in my plans and now it’s coming to fruition in January when I face Usman. I respect what he brings to the table and I am not discrediting him but I know I will leave Dubai on January 25^th as the new champion.”

The PFL is the only organization in the MMA with a sports-season format where the individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs and championship each year. The PFL roster boasts 30 percent of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC – an American mixed martial arts [MMA] promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada, US). The PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the ‘Champions League of MMA’ with PFL Europe, PFL Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and more international leagues in development.

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