UFC's First Emirati Competitor, Mohammad Yahya, To Fight In Abu Dhabi

Mohammad Yahya, the first Emirati to compete in the UFC, will return to the Octagon on 3rd August. He will face Brazilian Kaue Fernandes at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Yahya made history last year by signing with the world's largest mixed martial arts organisation and debuted in October at UFC 294: MAKHACHEV vs. VOLKANOVSKI 2.

The 30-year-old fighter holds an overall record of 12-4. He has extensive experience fighting in the region, particularly with UAE Warriors. Twelve of his sixteen professional fights have taken place in the UAE. Yahya can expect strong support from his home crowd as he seeks his first UFC win in one of the organisation’s most competitive divisions.

Brazil’s Fernandes will also be making his second UFC appearance this August. The 29-year-old holds an 8-2 record and, like Yahya, is looking for his first win inside the Octagon.

The night will feature a significant clash in the bantamweight division. American Cory Sandhagen will take on undefeated Russian Umar Nurmagomedov. Both fighters are familiar to Abu Dhabi fans, having fought in the Emirate previously.

No.2 ranked Sandhagen has fought on Yas Island twice, earning bonuses both times. He received a performance of the night bonus for defeating Marlon Moraes in 2020 and a fight of the night bonus for his battle with Petr Yan for the interim bantamweight title a year later.

Nurmagomedov's Rising Star

Nurmagomedov (17-0), currently ranked No.10 in the division, made his UFC debut in Abu Dhabi. He secured a performance of the night bonus by stopping Sergey Morozov. Since then, he has won four more fights and is considered one of the rising stars in the 135lbs class.

Yahya's return to fight in front of his home fans adds excitement to UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN vs. NURMAGOMEDOV. Both Yahya and Fernandes aim to secure their first victories inside the Octagon, promising an engaging match-up for fans.

With inputs from WAM