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Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC

Israel Adesanya’s comeback card takes another hit as second UFC Saudi Arabia fight is called off

Mathew Riddle
Mathew Riddle
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UFC Saudi Arabia has taken another hit as a second fight has been canceled just days before the scheduled event.

Thankfully, the main and co-main events of UFC Riyadh remain intact, as Israel Adesanya battles Nassourdine Imavov, and Sharabutdin Magomedov dukes it out with Michael ‘Venom’ Page. Adesanya makes his first non-title fight appearance since 2019 as he looks to recover from his first-ever back-to-back losses in professional MMA.

In the meantime, two undercard fights are officially scrapped.

UFC 305: Du Plessis v Adesanya
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Bolaji Oki’s withdrawal forces second fight cancelation for UFC Saudi Arabia

An official statement from the UFC on January 29 revealed that lightweight fighter Bolaji Oki has withdrawn with an injury, forcing his fight with Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady to be canceled.

Oki was hoping to rebound from his first UFC defeat at the hands of Chris Duncan in September 2024. ‘The Zulu Warrior’ is a Dana White Contender Series (DWCS) graduate who looks promising if he can fight regularly.

Al-Selwady also hails from DWCS, where he upset the odds by defeating Cage Warriors lightweight champion George Hardwick. He debuted in the UFC in March 2024, suffering a knockout loss to Loik Radzhabov in the third round.

Oki-Al-Selwady marks the second canceled fight for UFC Saudi Arabia, as Andre Muniz vs. Ikram Aliskerov was pulled due to travel complications from Muniz. Aliskerov has now had six fight cancelations in nine scheduled fights in the UFC.

UFC Saudi Arabia continues with 11 fights

With most of the star power intact, UFC Saudi Arabia continues with an 11-fight card (subject to change).

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