For just the third time in promotion history and first since 2014, the UFC returns to Abu Dhabi with a highly anticipated title-unification bout at the top of the bill.
In the main event, lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) returns for his first fight since last October to take on interim champ Dustin Poirier (25-5 MMA, 17-4 UFC). And in the co-main event, lightweight strikers and fan favorites Edson Barboza (20-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC) and Paul Felder (16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) will square off in a rematch of a fight first won by Barboza in 2015.
Take a look at the UFC 242 event info, lineup with start times and key storylines below.
What: UFC 242
When: Saturday
Where: The Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
TV, live stream: Pay-per-view, ESPN+, FX
Full fight card, start times
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 2 p.m. ET)
- Champ Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. interim champ Dustin Poirier – to unify lightweight title
- Edson Barboza vs. Paul Felder
- Islam Makhachev vs. Davi Ramos
- Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Curtis Blaydes
- Diego Ferreira vs. Mairbek Taisumov
PRELIMINARY CARD (FX, noon ET)
- Joanne Calderwood vs. Andrea Lee
- Liana Jojua vs. Sarah Moras
- Lerone Murphy vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
- Ottman Azaitar vs. Teemu Packalen
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 10:15 a.m. ET)
- Belal Muhammad vs. Takashi Sato
- Muslim Salikhov vs. Nordine Taleb
- Omari Akhmedov vs. Zak Cummings
- Don Madge vs. Fares Ziam
Key storylines
- UFC 242 breakdown: Why (and how) Dustin Poirier will upset Khabib Nurmagomedov
- Video: ‘UFC 242 Countdown’ for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier title fight
- Khabib Nurmagomedov not interested in superfights, says title defenses define legacy
- Khabib Nurmagomedov on retirement: ‘I don’t have a lot of fights ahead’
- Dustin Poirier: ‘I’m going to finish Khabib Nurmagomedov’ at UFC 242
