White says UFC Qatar (Nov. 21) and UFC Saudi Arabia (Dec. 5) go ahead despite the war, as the US pulls non-emergency staff from Saudi Arabia and TKO reportedly risks $90 million.
From 6 reports by 5 outletsLatest US orders non-emergency staff out of Saudi Arabia; TKO's Riyadh dates stand 2 updates 5 outlets
What we know
- UFC Qatar is set for Nov. 21 and UFC Saudi Arabia for Dec. 5 in Riyadh; WWE Crown Jewel is set for Riyadh on Nov. 7.
- The UFC Saudi Arabia card has not been officially announced; no date, venue or fights have been confirmed by the UFC.
- The US State Department's departure order for non-emergency government employees and their families in Saudi Arabia took effect Oct. 23.
- Canelo Alvarez fights Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on Oct. 31; Turki Alalshikh says it goes ahead as planned.
Reported, not confirmed
- A US Embassy alert on Oct. 25 said US government staff need special authorization from the Chief of Mission to use any Saudi airport, citing Houthi attacks on airports. Fightful
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King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh partially reopened Oct. 25, handling domestic flights and some international routes.
Knockout Daily
- TKO could face roughly $90 million in losses if its WWE and UFC events in Saudi Arabia are canceled. Sportskeeda
Dana White has put the UFC's Middle East schedule on record: the dates stay, war or not. Whether that holds depends on a security picture in Saudi Arabia that is getting worse, not better.
Asked after UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi about security, and whether he had a message for other sports organizations in the region, White said he has never felt unsafe there or felt his staff were unsafe, and praised how events are run. "When we have a deal, we have a contract, we have a date, we'll be there," he said, adding that he can't tell other sporting events what to do.
The commitment spans TKO, which owns both the UFC and WWE. WWE Crown Jewel is set for Riyadh on Nov. 7, UFC Qatar for Nov. 21 and UFC Saudi Arabia for Dec. 5. Saudi Arabia has been hit by Houthi missile and drone attacks, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been struck more than once, according to MMA Mania.
The pressure is concrete. The US State Department's departure order for non-emergency government employees and their families took effect Oct. 23. A US Embassy alert two days later, reported by Fightful, cited Houthi attacks on civilian airports and infrastructure and said US government staff need special authorization to use any Saudi airport. King Khalid International announced a partial reopening on Oct. 25, handling domestic flights and some international routes.
There is a financial side too. Sportskeeda reports TKO could face roughly $90 million in losses if its WWE and UFC events in the Kingdom are canceled. None of the reports say whether TKO has discussed moving or postponing anything with Saudi partners.
For now Saudi Arabia is a promise rather than an official booking: the card has not been announced. MMA.pl lists Israel Adesanya against Shara Magomedov as the Riyadh main event, and Adesanya's bout was already reported to be clouded by the regional conflict. The first test comes Oct. 31, when Canelo Alvarez fights Christian Mbilli in Riyadh; Turki Alalshikh has said it will go ahead as planned despite pressure to reschedule. Watch that card, the state of Riyadh's airport and any official UFC announcement.
Asked after UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi about security, and whether he had a message for other sports organizations in the region, White said he has never felt unsafe there or felt his staff were unsafe, and praised how events are run. "When we have a deal, we have a contract, we have a date, we'll be there," he said, adding that he can't tell other sporting events what to do.
The commitment spans TKO, which owns both the UFC and WWE. WWE Crown Jewel is set for Riyadh on Nov. 7, UFC Qatar for Nov. 21 and UFC Saudi Arabia for Dec. 5. Saudi Arabia has been hit by Houthi missile and drone attacks, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been struck more than once, according to MMA Mania.
The pressure is concrete. The US State Department's departure order for non-emergency government employees and their families took effect Oct. 23. A US Embassy alert two days later, reported by Fightful, cited Houthi attacks on civilian airports and infrastructure and said US government staff need special authorization to use any Saudi airport. King Khalid International announced a partial reopening on Oct. 25, handling domestic flights and some international routes.
There is a financial side too. Sportskeeda reports TKO could face roughly $90 million in losses if its WWE and UFC events in the Kingdom are canceled. None of the reports say whether TKO has discussed moving or postponing anything with Saudi partners.
For now Saudi Arabia is a promise rather than an official booking: the card has not been announced. MMA.pl lists Israel Adesanya against Shara Magomedov as the Riyadh main event, and Adesanya's bout was already reported to be clouded by the regional conflict. The first test comes Oct. 31, when Canelo Alvarez fights Christian Mbilli in Riyadh; Turki Alalshikh has said it will go ahead as planned despite pressure to reschedule. Watch that card, the state of Riyadh's airport and any official UFC announcement.
- Summary
- White says UFC Qatar (Nov. 21) and UFC Saudi Arabia (Dec. 5) go ahead despite the war, as the US pulls non-emergency staff from Saudi Arabia and TKO reportedly risks $90 million.
- Key points (one per line)
- White says the UFC will be in Qatar on Nov. 21 and Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5: 'When we have a deal, we have a contract, we have a date, we'll be there.'
The US ordered non-emergency government staff out of Saudi Arabia, effective Oct. 23, after Houthi attacks on Saudi airports.
Sportskeeda reports TKO could lose about $90 million if its WWE and UFC events in Saudi Arabia are canceled.
UFC Saudi Arabia has no official announcement, venue or confirmed fights.
- 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
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/tko-stares-down-a-90-million-hole-as-riyadh-fight-dates-hold-despite-u-s-exit-order
X: @FalseFinishHQ | https://x.com/FalseFinishHQ/status/2114199524445184131
MMA.pl | https://mma.pl/czy-ufc-zrezygnuje-z-gal-na-bliskim-wschodzie-dana-white-stawia-sprawe-jasno/
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Jed I. Goodman ©@jedigoodmanIn the story
Dana White is asked what he can tell other sports leagues about holding events in the region amid ongoing security concerns.DW: "I can't tell other sporting events what to do. That's their business. We go. We go. When we have deal, we have a contract, we have a date, we'll be…
Oct 24 · View on X
False Finish@FalseFinishHQNews
Dana White was asked about UFC potentially moving their Saudi Arabia event.
“When we have contracts, we’ll be there.”
Oct 25 · View on X
Fighters in this story
Alexander Volkanovski
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How the story developed
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US orders non-emergency staff out of Saudi Arabia; TKO's Riyadh dates standKnockout Daily
-
White says UFC Qatar and Saudi Arabia dates are going ahead despite the war
MMA Mania
Sources
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