Dana White has publicly rejected suggestions that the UFC’s planned December event in Saudi Arabia is on the verge of cancellation. Asked at the UFC Edmonton press conference whether the Dec. 5 card in Riyadh would be moved due to the ongoing conflict in the region, White offered a curt response that pointed to his packed travel schedule rather than any contingency planning.
“I go to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, I have like six events in the next 30 days, in Saudi, Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” White said.
That medical restriction has effectively confined his UFC career to international cards, particularly in the Middle East.
If the Riyadh card is indeed canceled, moving the bout to Qatar would preserve the matchup and avoid U.S. commission restrictions.
UFC Qatar is already a sanctioned event on the promotion’s calendar, with the main event between Adesanya’s former teammate, Navajo Sterling, and former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka.
For fans and for Adesanya and Magomedov, the practical reality is that nothing has been officially moved or canceled.
White’s words suggest the UFC is proceeding as planned. The reported plan to shift the fight to Qatar, however, reflects a genuine logistical problem that White’s travel schedule alone does not answer. Until the UFC issues a formal statement, the Dec. 5 Riyadh event will proceed.
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