Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Nick Diaz and Tony Ferguson return: All about the UFC Abu Dhabi fight card
It appears as though the UFC Abu Dhabi will be a must-see event as the promotion announced the main card, which includes plenty of notable fighters. The event is scheduled to take place at the Etihad Arena on Aug.3 and air live on ABC.
The Fight Night card is already shaping up to be an entertaining night of fights as there are high stakes matchups as well as legends returning to action. UFC Abu Dhabi will also provide more clarity in the bantamweight division as the main event between Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov will be a title eliminator bout.
Championship Rounds tweeted a video of Dana White officially announcing the main card for UFC Abu Dhabi, which featured some surprising matchups. He mentioned that one in particular could even be a retirement fight for Tony Ferguson, who is one of the promotion's most beloved fighters.
In addition to the title eliminator main event, White announced that former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz will return to 170-pounds to fight Vicente Luque in a five-round co-main event. Ferguson also returns to welterweight to fight Michael Chiesa and Mackenzie Dern looks to snap her losing skid against surging contender Loopy Godinez, who is coming off a loss of her own.
Check out Dana White's announcement below:
Will Tony Ferguson retire at UFC Abu Dhabi?
Despite Dana White's opinion that he should retire, Tony Ferguson will receive one more opportunity when he takes on former TUF winner Michael Chiesa at UFC Abu Dhabi.
The former interim lightweight champion hasn't had the best of luck as of late as he has lost seven consecutive bouts dating back to his TKO loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 249. In the aforementioned video, White hinted that the event could be the final time fans see 'El Cucuy' competing in the octagon. He said:
"Opening the main card is a fight between the legend Tony Ferguson, moving up to 170-pounds in what could be his final fight to take on Michael Chiesa."
Check out a tweet regarding Chiesa vs. Ferguson announcement below:
![Tweet regarding Chiesa vs. Ferguson announcement [Image courtesy: @BigMarcel24 - X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/05/b1360-17169996324146-1920.jpg?w=500)