Cream of UFC to descend on Yas Island

Silva tops star-studded bill in capital that could inspire Emiratis to feature on the card in future events, says the UFC chief executive Fertitta

UFC112, Abu Dhabi's maiden Ultimate Fighting Championship event will feature one of the strongest fight cards in mixed martial arts (MMA) history, the event organisers revealed yesterday. Headlining the April 10 bill, which will feature 10 bouts, are two world-title fights. Middleweight champion Anderson Silva will face-off with fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort, and lightweight champion BJ Penn will take on No 1 challenger Frankie Edgar.

In addition, Renzo Gracie, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu pioneer, will make his UFC debut against Matt Hughes, a former two-time welterweight champion. "This is one of the biggest and most significant nights in the history of the UFC," said Dana White, the president of the MMA competition. "Abu Dhabi is our first outdoor event and we are very happy we could deliver what fans around the world will recognise as a stacked card featuring the sport's biggest stars."

The calibre of the UFC112 fight-card, which was announced only a fortnight after Abu Dhabi events firm Flash Entertainment acquired a 10 per cent stake in the UFC's parent company, Zuffa LLC, is illustrated by comparing it to UFC109; the series' next fight-night. Titled "Relentless", UFC109 does not feature any title fights and has 46-year old veteran Randy Couture as its headline act. The Abu Dhabi card, which will be fought out in front of 12,000 people at the outdoor concert arena at Yas Island's Ferrari World, is star-studded.

According to UFC co-owner and chief executive Lorenzo Fertitta, the card is evidence of the sport's commitment to its UAE fan base. "One of the things that was important to us was not just bringing the UFC here and letting the brand do the work, we wanted to bring a world-class event," said Fertitta. John Lickrish, the managing director of Flash, added: "UFC112 is going to be incredible. "Abu Dhabi has a long tradition of mixed martial arts. Hosting UFC112 continues the country's love and passion for the sport."

Meanwhile, Fertitta, citing the UFC's gradual growth in the burgeoning British market, believes the sport's arrival in the UAE will fuel the local appetite for MMA and spur on aspiring Emirati fighters. "We would expect to see Emirati fighters," said Fertitta. "When we first went into the UK there wasn't that much British talent and we had to develop it over time. "But once we started bringing across the live events the exposure increased and more guys started training.

"They then started cross-training with other guys around the world, standards improved and they got a lot better. "I would certainly expect that with the great background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu that has been put in place here by the Abu Dhabi Combat Club and its tournaments, coupled with the number of people who start training and cross-discipline training from such a young age, that we will see Emiratis competing in the UFC.

"Probably in the very near future too." @Email:[e-mail]