The Ultimate Fighting Championship will plant its flag in Middle Eastern soil for the 18th time in its 30-year history when UFC 294 touches down at Etihad Arena on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A champion-versus-champion rematch headlines the festivities, as Islam Makhachev defends his undisputed lightweight crown against featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski for the second time in roughly eight months. The palpable buzz surrounding the event permeates social media. A look into some of the discussions:
While the top two fights on the card—Makhachev-Volkanovski and the Kamaru Usman-Khamzat Chimaev co-main event—carry undeniable star power, intrigue and historical significance, they are not without their issues.