UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi: A Record Night at Etihad Arena

27 October 2026 · 5 min read ·

On Saturday, 24 October 2026, UFC 333 drew the biggest crowd and the highest ticket revenue of any UFC event in Abu Dhabi. UFC CEO Dana White announced both figures after the fights and said that more than half of the fans came from outside the UAE.

Our team was in the crowd at Etihad Arena on Yas Island as guests of Aldar. Below we cover what happened on the night, how Abu Dhabi became one of the most important cities on the UFC calendar, and what the event means for Yas Island.

The I Buy Real Estate team at UFC 333, Etihad Arena

Two Title Fights in One Night

UFC 333 had two championship fights at the top of the card. In the main event, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski fought Movsar Evloev, who came into the fight with a perfect 20-0 record.

Volkanovski is 38, and he won by TKO in the second round to keep his title. According to The National, it was his ninth win in a featherweight title fight, which put him ahead of José Aldo for the most title-fight wins in the division.

In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Petr Yan met Merab Dvalishvili for the third time. All three judges scored the five rounds 48-47 for Yan, so he kept his belt.

Abu Dhabi has a special place in Yan's career. He won his first UFC title in the city in 2020, when he beat José Aldo during the Fight Island series.

The octagon at Etihad Arena during UFC 333

A New Attendance Record for Abu Dhabi

After the event, Dana White said: "Tonight was the highest attendance for a UFC event in Abu Dhabi history. Highest gate." The gate is the total ticket revenue for the night.

He also said that more than 50% of the fans had travelled from outside the UAE. That means the event brought thousands of visitors to Yas Island for the weekend.

White added that the UFC plans more major events in Abu Dhabi and is working on a "very unique" event that it will announce soon.

UFC in Abu Dhabi Since 2010

UFC 333 was the promotion's 24th event in Abu Dhabi. The first one, UFC 112, took place in April 2010. It was the first UFC event in the Middle East and the first UFC event held outdoors.

UFC 112 was held in a 12,000-seat outdoor arena next to Ferrari World on Yas Island. Like UFC 333, it had two title fights: Anderson Silva defended his middleweight belt, and Frankie Edgar won the lightweight title from BJ Penn.

The UFC works in Abu Dhabi through a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), and the current contract runs until 2028. Under the deal, the UFC brings one numbered event with a championship fight to the city every year. The UFC now comes to Abu Dhabi twice a year, with a Fight Night in summer and a numbered event in October.

Fight Island: Abu Dhabi Kept the UFC Going

In 2020, when most sports events around the world were on pause, the UFC moved its events to Yas Island. The project became known as Fight Island.

Between July 2020 and January 2021, Abu Dhabi hosted 12 UFC events, and fans around the world watched them on TV.

Etihad Arena: The UFC's Home in Abu Dhabi

Etihad Arena hosted its first event in January 2021. It was UFC 257, with Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier in the main event.

Since then, the arena has seen several new champions crowned. In October 2022, Islam Makhachev won the lightweight title there by beating Charles Oliveira in the second round in front of a sold-out crowd.

USA TODAY Sports named Etihad Arena one of the best UFC venues in the world for its close atmosphere, fan experience and easy access.

View of the octagon from the stands at Etihad Arena, UFC 333

Abu Dhabi Showdown Week

The October event is the finale of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, a week of combat sports and fan events across Yas Island. In the days before UFC 333, fighters held open workouts for the public at Yas Mall.

Etihad Arena sits close to theme parks, hotels and Yas Mall, so many visitors combine the fight with a long weekend on the island.

What Big Events Mean for Yas Island

Aldar is the master developer of Yas Island. Today the island holds Ferrari World, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Mall, Etihad Arena and several residential communities.

Events like UFC 333 bring international visitors, TV coverage and hotel guests to the island several times a year. According to DCT Abu Dhabi, UFC events in the city have been shown to more than 900 million homes in over 170 countries.

Is Yas Island a Good Area for Property Buyers?

Yas Island suits buyers who want to live close to entertainment, sport and leisure, and investors who are interested in short-term and holiday rentals. Regular events like UFC, Formula 1 and concerts keep the island on the international calendar.

Before buying, compare the specific community, its distance to the arena and the circuit, the property type, service charges and rental rules for the building. Each property is different, so it is worth looking at a few options side by side.