The UFC is hosting a Fight Night in the UAE and has announced several bouts for UFC 321 in October, including Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov and a heavyweight title defense by Tom Aspinall against Ciryl Gane.
The UFC is heading back to the United Arab Emirates this weekend for an exciting Fight Night event. They’re already gearing up for the October Abu Dhabi pay-per-view with some real "big boys."
On Thursday, the company announced that Aleksandar Rakic will attempt to break his three-fight losing streak at UFC 321 on October 25. He’ll face the undefeated Russian, Azamat Murzakanov.
Rakic holds the No. 8 spot at 205 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings. Meanwhile, Murzakanov is climbing the ranks, currently sitting at No. 11.
In addition, the UFC officially confirmed a heavyweight showdown between Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida. This event will be headlined by Tom Aspinall defending his undisputed heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane.
Rakic, with a record of 14-5, had an incredible start in the UFC, winning six out of seven fights from 2017 to 2021. His only loss during that time was a split decision to Volkan Oezdemir. However, his career hit a snag after a leg injury against Jan Blachowicz in 2022, leading to a lengthy recovery. Upon returning in 2024, he faced tough losses to Jiri Prochazka and Magomed Ankalaev.
On the other hand, Murzakanov (15-0) is on a roll, winning five consecutive fights in the UFC. His recent first-round knockout of Brendson Ribeiro in June was a highlight. He’s also known for a stoppage victory over future PFL finalist Matheus Scheffel on Dana White’s Contender Series.
UFC 321 will also feature three other official bouts: Azat Maksum (15-2) vs. Mitch Raposo (9-3) in the flyweight division, Ikram Aliskerov (16-2) vs. Jun Yong Park (19-6) at middleweight, and a heavyweight clash between Hamdy Abdelwahab (6-1, 1 NC) and Chris Barnett (23-9).
So, mark your calendars. It’s gonna be a wild ride!