In a night packed with high-stakes drama and raw intensity, UAE Warriors 64 lit up the ADNEC Centre on Wednesday evening, crowning two new champions and proving the depth of the region’s fastest-growing MMA promotion.
Main Event Reshuffle After Late Cancellation
The much-anticipated lightweight title clash between Amru Magomedov and challenger Martun Mezhlumyan was scrapped just hours before the event after the Armenian fighter was hospitalised due to weight-cut complications.
The cancellation, a major blow to what was billed as a triple-title card, left Magomedov – a protégé of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov – watching from the sidelines as his third title defence disappeared.
'Doctors ruled Mezhlumyan out following severe dehydration post weigh-in. The setback, however, didn’t dim the spotlight for long.
Abubakar Claims Undisputed Flyweight Crown
In the reshuffled main event, British-Somali rising star Muhidin Abubakar seized his moment, defeating Brazilian champion Iago Ribeiro by unanimous decision to unify the UAE Warriors flyweight title.
Abubakar (10-1) showcased his elite karate base and relentless pressure, earning 50-45 scores across all three judges in a tactically brilliant five-round war. Riding a seven-fight winning streak, the London-based fighter displayed superb composure, stuffing Ribeiro’s takedowns and countering with precision striking.
A champion’s performance
Chopurov Demolishes Pena For Bantamweight Title
The co-main event saw Azerbaijan’s Asaf “The Honey Badger” Chopurov deliver a ruthless third-round TKO against American veteran Demarte Pena, forcing a doctor stoppage in their bantamweight unification bout.
Unbeaten in 21 pro and amateur bouts, the 23-year-old former IMMAF world champion dominated from the outset, unleashing a barrage of ground-and-pound after a slick takedown. Pena, 36, bloodied and unable to continue, was left heartbroken as his hopes of a UFC call-up faded.
Chopurov, who had trained in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for a month, fought back tears when receiving his belt, calling it “a dream realised in front of a crowd that felt like home.”
Action-Packed Undercard Thrills The Crowd
The undercard kept the Abu Dhabi crowd on its feet, featuring a mix of brutal finishes and technical showcases.
• Abdullo Khodzhaev (TJK) edged Brazil’s Felipe Douglas in a thrilling lightweight scrap decided by unanimous decision.
• Abdul Hussein (BRN) submitted Nigeria’s Gift Walker via rear-naked choke just 3:47 into Round 1.
• A flyweight contest between Bekhzod Abdurakhimov (UZB) and Muhammadkabir Nazarzoda (TJK) ended in a no-contest after an accidental knee
• Canada’s Samantha Jean-Francois opened the night with a third-round TKO win in the women’s strawweight division.
Stars In Attendance, And Future Plans Revealed
MMA icons Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dong Hyun Kim electrified the venue with a surprise appearance, sharing a heartfelt cageside exchange symbolising the sport’s global camaraderie.
UAE Warriors CEO Fouad Darwish lauded the night as “a statement of the promotion’s depth and resilience,” and revealed that the series will next head international — with Lebanon tipped as the upcoming host.
