Two epic showdowns confirmed for UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi

Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (Top left) defends against Charles Oliveira (Top right), while Khamzat Chimaev (Bottom left) will take on Paulo Costa (Bottom right). (FILE/AFP)
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Updated 20 July 2023
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Two epic showdowns confirmed for UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi

  • Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev defends against Charles Oliveira, while Khamzat Chimaev will take on Paulo Costa

Islam Makhachev has been confirmed to face Charles Oliveira at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi for the lightweight championship.

The rematch will headline the event at the Etihad Arena on Oct. 21.

Brazil’s Oliveira lost the title to Russia’s Makhachev at UFC 280 last year in Abu Dhabi — and will be looking for revenge.

Also confirmed for UFC 294 is a middleweight bout between Sweden’s Khamzat Chimaev and Brazil’s Paulo Costa.

Chimaev catapulted to fame during Abu Dhabi’s “Fight Island” series of events during the COVID-19 lockdown, fighting in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions.

Since he last fought in September 2022 at a catchweight, there has been a lot of speculation about the division in which he would compete.

UFC 294 marks the 18th event by the company in Abu Dhabi. A showdown week will take place featuring meet-and-greets and fan events.

UFC President Dana White reportedly commented: “I love Abu Dhabi. I tell you all the time. They have the best restaurants, the best shopping, unbelievable service; you literally could not ask for a better destination for a fight.”

Tickets are on sale from the Etihad Arena website.


Twice champion Naomi Osaka out of Australian Open

Updated 24 January 2026
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Twice champion Naomi Osaka out of Australian Open

  • Osaka said ‌on ⁠social media ‌that her body needed attention following her previous match against Sorana Cirstea

MELBOURNE: Twice Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the Grand Slam ahead of her scheduled third round match on Saturday, citing a fitness problem.
Her opponent, Australian Maddison Inglis, has a walkover into the fourth round.
Japanese 16th seed Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 ‌winner at ‌Melbourne Park, said ‌on ⁠social media ‌that her body needed attention following her previous match against Sorana Cirstea, without elaborating on the issue.
“I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body ⁠needs attention for after my last match,” she ‌wrote.
“I was so excited ‍to keep ‍going and this run meant the ‍most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart but I can’t risk doing any further damage so I can get back on the court.”
The pull-out is a ⁠setback for Osaka, who has been returning to her best and made the US Open semifinals last year.
At Melbourne Park, Osaka made a huge splash before her opening match against Antonia Ruzic when she entered Rod Laver Arena in a jellyfish-inspired outfit, one of the boldest fashion ‌statements seen at a Grand Slam.