Are the Gulf states overtaking Las Vegas as the world’s fight capital?

The glittering neon lights of Las Vegas have long symbolized the epicenter of martial arts.

It’s the place where the aging Muhammad Ali lost his pomp, where Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear (twice) and where Floyd Mayweather showed off his decade of dominance. It’s also where Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters like Conor McGregor became household names.

However, Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – armed with vast resources and endless ambitions – have emerged as formidable contenders, positioning themselves to potentially usurp Las Vegas’ coveted title as the ‘fighting capital’ of the world .

Last week, the UFC hosted its latest premium live event in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The event, which saw lightweight champion Islam Makhachev defend his title against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, was the 19th event held in the region since 2010.

Shortly ahead of its latest event in Abu Dhabi, the UFC announced it had extended its partnership with the Emirati capital through 2028, with the mutually beneficial partnership between the Las Vegas-based organization and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (DCT) of Abu Dhabi was highlighted.

“Bringing UFC to Abu Dhabi every year has proven to be extremely popular, with MMA fans from all over the world coming to the emirate to watch the biggest and best fights in the sport,” said Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi , said in the official press release, adding that “Abu Dhabi has established itself as a world capital for martial arts.”

The UFC is just one facet of Abu Dhabi’s combat sports strategy. Over the past 25 years, the UAE capital has continued to establish itself as a global hub for submission wrestling. The country classifies Brazilian jiu-jitsu as its national sport and includes it in school curricula, as well as in the military and police. Abu Dhabi is also home to some of the most prestigious jiu-jitsu tournaments, including the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship.

Abu Dhabi’s investment in jiu-jitsu was not a random occurrence. The sport was popularized by Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed al Nahyan – the son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE – who discovered the art of wrestling as a university student in San Diego. He later returned to the UAE and founded the ADCC, as well as several other martial arts federations.

Sheikh Tahnoun is often regarded as the leading force behind martial arts in the UAE. He is also the deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi, chairman of one of the country’s largest sovereign wealth funds, and is a key figure behind the country’s coordinated combat sports. spyware attacks on dissidents and political targets. His central role in shaping the UAE’s martial arts strategy underlines the country’s adept use of sport as a means of exerting influence, and mirrors the way his younger brother, Sheikh Mansour, wields authority through his ownership of the English Premier League team, Manchester City. .

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia – the UAE’s main regional rival – has also emerged as a lucrative homeland for martial arts. In recent years, the kingdom has hosted some of the biggest showdowns in boxing, including the heavyweight championship fight between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.

This weekend, Saudi Arabia is set to launch its winter festival, Riyadh Season, with a crossover fight pitting WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou. Furthermore, the kingdom has successfully secured the hosting rights for the highly anticipated showdown between Fury and Usyk, which will form the final highlight of the 2024 Riyadh season.

This series of high-profile fights has helped cement the kingdom’s status as a premier boxing destination.

Saudi Arabia also made its first significant investment in MMA earlier this year when it became a minority interest valued at $100 million in the US-based Professional Fighters League (PFL). Under the terms of the deal, the PFL will establish a regional tournament headquartered in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom will also host its first-ever UFC event in 2024, along with the Riyadh season.

Saudi Arabia is also currently hosting the 2023 edition of the World Combat Games, an international multi-sport festival featuring 16 different martial arts and combat sports.

Nevertheless, as Las Vegas faces new challenges in its decades of martial arts dominance, the gambling oasis has rebranded itself as a global sports hub, attracting some of the country’s top sporting events and franchises.

In 2020, Las Vegas secured its first NFL franchise when the Raiders moved from Oakland to Allegiant Stadium – the second most expensive stadium in the world which will also host the Super Bowl in February. The city’s NHL team, the Golden Knights, and their WNBA team, the Las Vegas Aces, also won both championships this year. Even LeBron James has expressed interest in bringing an NBA team to Vegas after making the transition from player to potential team owner.

And next month, the Strip will be transformed into a Formula 1 circuit, making Las Vegas home to the biggest Grand Prix race in North America to date.

Several factors contribute to Vegas’ appeal as a top destination for sports teams. The city has long had a reputation as a global tourism hotspot, luring visitors from all corners of the world looking to immerse themselves in its entertainment, culinary offerings and overall opulence. In 2022, a year in which Vegas played host to major events like the NFL Pro Bowl, the NFL draft and countless high-profile concerts, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported that 38.8 million visitors flocked to the city.

Las Vegas will also benefit from the wave of legalized sports betting spreading across the United States. What was once considered a controversial practice has led to several major sports leagues forming partnerships with sportsbook operators. This shift in perception has paved the way for professional franchises to establish a permanent presence in Sin City.

As Las Vegas faces the possibility of relinquishing its title as the fighting capital of the world, and wealthy patrons like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates show greater enthusiasm for martial arts, the city appears to be actively shifting its focus. Las Vegas is shifting its focus from niche, violence-oriented sports to the broader realm of global sports and entertainment brands, a transition indicative of its evolving priorities.

As Las Vegas follows the changing tides of an ever-changing sporting world, the Gulf States are stepping into the spotlight, ready to seize the opportunity and claim their place as the new epicenter of combat sports.