Dana White says UFC will go ahead with Middle East events despite war

The bottom line

Dana White said UFC events in the Middle East are going ahead despite the war, with UFC Saudi Arabia listed for Dec. 5 and UFC Qatar for Nov. 21, per MMA Mania.

From 3 reports by 3 outlets

Latest White says UFC Qatar (Nov. 21) and UFC Saudi Arabia (Dec. 5) are going ahead despite the war 3 outlets

Dana White says UFC will go ahead with Middle East events despite war
Photo via MMA Mania · added

What we know

  • The UFC has not officially announced the Saudi Arabia event; no venue or fights are confirmed.
  • White said the UFC will attend when it has a deal, a contract and a date, and that he has never felt unsafe in the Middle East.

Reported, not confirmed

  • White indicated after UFC 333 that the UFC Saudi Arabia event is moving forward. Knockout Daily
  • MMA Mania lists UFC Qatar on Nov. 21 and UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5 as going ahead, according to White. MMA Mania
  • White said Islam Makhachev, slated for January, asked to wait until after Ramadan. Knockout Daily
Dana White said after UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi that the UFC will keep its Middle East dates despite the war in the region. Asked about security, he said he has never felt unsafe or felt his staff were unsafe there.

White said he can't tell other sporting events what to do, adding: "When we have a deal, we have a contract, we have a date, we'll be there." MMA Mania lists UFC Qatar on Nov. 21 and UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5 among the events moving forward, according to White.

The UFC has not officially announced a Saudi Arabia card, and no venue or fights are confirmed. The first test in the region is the Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli boxing card in Riyadh on Oct. 31, which Turki Alalshikh has said will go ahead.
 
Summary
Dana White said UFC events in the Middle East are going ahead despite the war, with UFC Saudi Arabia listed for Dec. 5 and UFC Qatar for Nov. 21, per MMA Mania.
Key points (one per line)
White said the UFC will be there when it has a deal, a contract and a date, and that he has never felt unsafe in the region
MMA Mania lists UFC Qatar on Nov. 21 and UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5 as moving forward
The UFC has not officially announced a Saudi Arabia card, venue or fights
White also said Islam Makhachev asked to wait until after Ramadan
Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/dana-white-shuts-down-saudi-arabia-doubts-with-three-words
MMA Mania | https://www.mmamania.com/ufc-news/482011/dana-white-says-ufc-events-will-go-ahead-in-middle-east-despite-war-well-be-there
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/8955002e-02f5-4a4b-972c-fb3d84cf3fdb/dana-white-ufc-middle-east-events-go-ahead-despite-war-qatar-saudi-arabia
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