The Ultimate Fighting Championship has officially confirmed the lineup for its upcoming event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for December 5. The promotion announced during Saturday’s broadcast that former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will return to the Octagon to face Shara Magomedov in a five-round main event. This matchup serves as a pivotal moment for Adesanya, who looks to break a four-fight losing streak, having last appeared in a TKO loss to Joe Pyfer earlier this year.
The co-main event will feature an equally significant clash in the welterweight division between Ian Machado Garry and Yaroslav Amosov. Both fighters are looking to make a statement in a division currently led by champion Islam Makhachev, to whom Garry recently lost a title challenge in August. Amosov, a former Bellator champion, brings a strong winning record into the contest and will look to continue his momentum against the Irish contender.
This event marks the third time the UFC has brought its product to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The promotion confirmed that the “five-round middleweight bout to headline UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5” will be the centerpiece of a 12-fight card. Fans are anticipating a high-level striking affair given the backgrounds of both Adesanya and Magomedov, the latter of whom has maintained a 6-1 record inside the UFC. The card is set to take place at the ANB Arena in Riyadh.
Beyond the top two bouts, the event features several other intriguing matchups, including a heavyweight contest between Serghei Spivac and Mario Pinto. The promotion’s return to Riyadh is expected to draw significant international attention as it rounds out the calendar for the year. With the official announcement now public, the fighters are entering their final training preparations for the December showcase. The event will be broadcast live on Paramount+ for fans around the world.