Excitement is building for UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday as the finishing touches are put on The Arena ahead of fight night.
The Arena, located on Yas Island, is a purpose-built 13,000-seater stadium which has been specifically created for UFC events after the MMA promotional company signed a five-year deal with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi.
In June, The National were given an exclusive first look at how The Arena was shaping up, and nearly two months later we were invited back to see the completed stadium.
With just a couple of days to go until UFC 242, only the final touches are left, while the Octagon cage will be installed after the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert, which takes place on Wednesday.
UFC 242 marks the UFC's return to Abu Dhabi after a five-year hiatus. The card will be headlined by the lightweight title fight between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Dustin Poirier. It marks Nurmagomedov's return to action following a nine-month suspension.
In an exclusive interview with The National, Nurmagomedov said he plans to put on a show for all of his fans in Abu Dhabi.
If you are heading to UFC 242 on Saturday, you can find The Arena in the Google Maps location below:
