UFC Riyadh: Adesanya vs Magomedov, Garry vs Amosov on 5 December

Israel Adesanya will fight for what is left of his career in Riyadh. The former UFC middleweight champion faces Russia's Shara Magomedov in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia on Saturday 5 December at the ANB Arena. The bout is set for five rounds. The UFC announced the card during UFC Vegas 124 on 7 November, after weeks of reports in the American press.

Adesanya with his back to the wall

At 37, Adesanya (24 wins, 6 losses) has lost four in a row. He dropped his title to Sean Strickland in 2023, then was submitted in the fourth round by Dricus du Plessis in a title fight at UFC 305. Nassourdine Imavov then stopped him in the second round, as did Joe Pyfer on 28 March. The Nigerian-born New Zealander is still ranked ninth in the division.

Magomedov (17 wins, 1 loss) is five years younger and just as committed to striking. The Gorets Fight Club fighter has won six times in the UFC, including recent unanimous decisions over Marc-André Barriault in July 2025 and Michel Pereira at UFC Baku. His only professional defeat came against Michael Page. He is ranked 15th at middleweight.

Garry after Makhachev

The co-main event, also over five rounds, is at welterweight. Ireland's Ian Machado Garry (17 wins, 2 losses), ranked number one, returns from his decision loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, his first title shot. Before that he had beaten Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates.

Yaroslav Amosov, the former Bellator champion, has lost once in 31 professional fights. The Ukrainian fights for the third time in the UFC in Riyadh, after two wins. Beating the division's number one would put him straight into the race for Makhachev's title.

A busy end to the year

The event is part of Riyadh Season, which hosts major boxing and MMA fights every winter. The rest of the card has not been announced yet. Start times and broadcast details will be added to the event page as soon as they are published.

5 December will be a busy day for fight fans: David Benavidez meets Michal Cieslak in Glendale, Leonardo Mosquea boxes in Décines and the Tokyo Grand Slam of judo begins.