Adesanya vs. Magomedov Confirmed for UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5

The UFC is going back to Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5, with Israel Adesanya facing Shara Magomedov in the main event. Ian Garry and Yaroslav Amosov meet in the co-main event, the bout that sits directly below the headliner.

Four fighters with something to prove

The card is set for ANB Arena. Adesanya and Garry both come off defeats.

Amosov gets his biggest night in the UFC

Amosov is 30-1. He is a former Bellator welterweight champion and has championship experience, but this is only his third appearance in the UFC.

The fight with Garry is the biggest of his young UFC career. A win could put him straight into the welterweight title conversation.

Garry returns four months after a title loss

Garry is an Irish welterweight with a record of 17-2. In his last bout he lost to Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. It was his first shot at a UFC title, and it came after two straight wins.

The turnaround is short: four months after the Makhachev fight, Garry is back in the Octagon.

The Irishman needs a victory to start a fresh run at the belt.

Magomedov meets a former champion for the first time

Magomedov is 17-1 and fights at middleweight. He took a decision over Michel Pereira at UFC Baku, which gives him some momentum.

The step up is steep. Adesanya will be the first former UFC champion he has shared the Octagon with, and a victory would be the biggest of his career.

Adesanya tries to end a four-fight skid in a new gym

Adesanya, 24-6, is a former middleweight champion. His last fight was in March, a loss to Joe Pyfer, and he comes back nine months later.

That loss was the fourth in a row. The others came against Nassourdine Imavov, Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland.

The training camp has changed too. He spent years at City Kickboxing in New Zealand, then announced his departure and a move to Freestyle MMA in Sydney, Australia. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski also trains there. Adesanya hopes the new setting helps turn his career around.

Source: Cageside Press