The UFC returned to Abu Dhabi for the first time in five years last week with a Pay-Per-View show headlined by a lightweight title bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier. And though the event was arguably more successful than their previous two ventures into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital, it was not without its controversial moments, including the appearance of Ramzan Kadyrov.
Though the UFC attempted to keep the Chechen dictator off the official broadcast, he made a brief cameo on screen following Islam Makhachev’s decision victory during the main card. Kadyrov, who has been repeatedly accused of rounding up and torturing Chechen citizens based on their sexual orientation, as well as countless other human rights atrocities, was standing in the front row alongside notorious henchmen such as Adam Delimkhanov.