Arabian Nights: UFC 112 official for outdoor show at Concert Arena in Abu Dhabi on April 10
by Jesse Holland on Jan 27, 2010 10:13 AM EST
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It's official.
Despite some initial concerns about the ability to secure a venue for their upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi, the world's biggest fight promotion today announced that UFC 112 will take place at the Concert Arena from Ferrari World, Yas Island, on Saturday, April 10.
The card will be held outdoors -- the first ever open-air event in UFC history.
As expected, the UFC will bring out their biggest stars for the event, including two championship title fights when Anderson "The Spider" Silva defends his middleweight strap against Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort.
Joining them as the co-main event will be lightweight kingpin BJ "The Prodigy" Penn taking on Frankie "The Answer" Edgar. Matt Hughes vs. Renzo Gracie has also been confirmed for the main card.
From UFC President Dana White:
"This is one of the biggest and most significant nights in the history of the UFC. UFC 112 is our first ever outdoor event and it is taking place in the hometown of our brand new partners, Flash Entertainment. We are very happy we could deliver what fans around the world will recognize as a stacked card featuring the sport’s biggest stars."
White, along with Zuffa owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, signified their ambition to cement their foothold in the Middle East and Asia when they announced that an Abu Dhabi-owned entertainment promotion company had bought a 10 percent share in the UFC earlier this month.
Flash Entertainment, an investment arm of the emirate's government, came on board as a strategic partner in its ongoing effort to build a global mixed martial arts brand.
Fertitta elaborated that numerous suitors -- including private equity funds, hedge funds, and media companies -- have come onboard with lucrative offers. Flash, a promoter known for bringing high-profile concerts and other events to the Middle East, ultimately won the bidding competition because the UFC brass saw in it a potential to accelerate UFC's growth in Middle Eastern countries, as well as in China and India.
Now with UFC 112 ready to kick the sand in the faces of global naysayers, it's not unrealistic to think the UFC will return to Abu Dhabi in 2011 -- and beyond.
Who's next in the quest for global domination?
For more on the UFC 112 fight card click here.
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That looks awesome.
I want to see some pics of the inside.
by HappyLittleTreez on Jan 27, 2010 10:15 AM EST reply actions
Yes it does.
I just hope the card delivers. If it does it’ll be huge for the brand.
The one and only Smitty...
~
i am soo pumped for this event!~
i am the mighty tighty whitey and im smuggling plums!~
by stinky~fingers on Jan 27, 2010 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
you goin? haha wonder what that trip would total...for a week I'd take 5K
Fedor was originally cast as the main character in 24, but was replaced by the producers when he managed to kill every terrorist and save the day in 12 minutes and 37 seconds
by McArthur... on Jan 27, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
I really need to step up my heroin sales if I’m going to make that one.
The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful
~
i’ll probably go~
i am the mighty tighty whitey and im smuggling plums!~
by stinky~fingers on Jan 27, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
Ok my link disappeared…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6lpDyYycoE&feature=player_embedded#
by HappyLittleTreez on Jan 27, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
SO, is this thing built yet or NOT??
I have NOT seen an actual photo yet. Everywhere I look is an “artist’s rendering” or digitally enhanced view…..
The venue can NOT be complete yet, or you could go to Google earth and get REAL life photo of “Ferrari World”
110 looks damn good as well
Some superb UFC cards coming up, can’t wait.
"If I could change my name what would it be? Jesus"
Tito Ortiz (seriously...)
besides the lw belt there hasn't been a title defence in months
and then they have 2 in one night half way across the world? damn the uk and all the earopean shows got shit on. why isn’t the coleman/couture card over there?
Because Randy already bored us to sleep once
Seriously it doesn’t look good for us, they’ve been lazy with some of the recent cards and now nothing has been announced. Our top stars are having their biggest fights in Australia, Canada and the US and the UFC seems to be a lot more concerned with these other markets like the UAE and Australia, as well as Boston and Vancouver, to even bother with us anymore. We’re the old toy that Zuffa have grown out of. I’d take a Fight Night headlined by Semtex at this point.
"If I could change my name what would it be? Jesus"
Tito Ortiz (seriously...)
UK shouldn't be discouraged
look man, there’s PLENTY of places that the UFC could/should go BUT they only have so many fights a year, and if we really love our beloved MMA so much we have to encourage growth like this. OF COURSE, the UFC shouldnt forget about any of it’s fans, but developing new ones in other parts of the world is only a good thing for the sport.
Brenden Adams
Once they milked the B level Bisping for 8 or 9 fights.....
and Hendo showed how elite Bisping is. ONce Hardy loses his “UNdesereved” title shot….the UK will be nothing more than a quick visit once or twice a year
I know there was a fight night for the troops that looked pretty close to be outdoors.
For the Fiorivante/Menne fight there was daylight everywhere.
I was thinking the same thing and thinking of the same fight!
I AM SOMETIMES BIASED - Get over it!!!!!!!
by ViolentMike on Jan 27, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
not real stadium
I’m almost 100% that pic isn’t real. If you zoom til just before ya start to lose focus its pretty obvious to me the ferarri stadium is just some pic sat on top of another computer animated city. The points from the right wing overlap one of the roads.
But its very nice. I don’t see how useful its shape would be. I wouldn’t wanna sit in a wing. I guess it may have tons of stuff in the wings other than seating. Stores etc. Dealerships even.
worbanizer
by daniel worby on Jan 27, 2010 11:00 AM EST via mobile reply actions
so the red thing is the roof a large building?
with an arena somewhere in the center? and a hole in the roof in the mddle? and the wing things are like concourses with shopping and food and shit?
Goldie: "Michael Jordan-esque in his grappling skills is Travis Lutter."
Rogan: "No, no he's not. No."
just an ARITIST's rendereing.......
I cant find an ACTUAL real life photo either. With all the mma sites and all the media and all the fans….if there was a REAL life photo of this place(ie this place is built and finished), then we would see it SOMEWHERE
Found a pic
of what looks like this stadium under construction… as the above pic is an artist’s interpretation/rendering.
And one more...
which I think is real (hard to tell sometimes)
http://ezcolewhee.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/ferrari-world-abu-dhabi-2-lg.jpg
do you guys have a link or website that will show the card for ufc 112
The ufc website only shows the 3 big fights
those 3 big fights are big enough for this card, but i am sure they will complete the main card with 2 other big fights!!! Cant wait for this event!!! Only thing about this, is that it does not leave any title fights for UFC 114 for memorial Day weekend an the fan expo.
Unless this is when Brock plans to return. With the HW title and WW at UFC 111, the LW and MW at this event 112, and the LHW at UFC 113. it looks like 114 is SOL.
I dont understand the reasoning behind putting 2 title fights on the same card on back to back events. Dont get me wrong, thats awesome, but im a little bummed jsut becasue i was planning on going to UFC 114. with no title fights planned for that event, they will need to step up it up with big fights, hopefully.
Lets hope these arabs dont mess it up
By blowing up the damn arena…
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