Dana White has revealed the top fights scheduled for UFC 294 this fall when the promotion returns to Abu Dhabi.
In a video release, the UFC president stated that the October 21 pay-per-view will see a rematch between UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and former champ Charles Oliveira.
Makhachev (24-1) secured the vacant title by submitting Oliveira at UFC 280 last year in Abu Dhabi and successfully defended the title against 145-pound champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 this past February.
Oliveira (33-9, 1 NC) rebounded from the loss to Makhachev by stopping Beneil Dariush in the first round of their lightweight contest at UFC 289 in June. Oliveira enters this rematch having won twelve and his previous thirteen fights going back to June 2018.
Additionally, White announced a middleweight fight between the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev (12-0) and Paulo Costa (14-2). Chimaev has been inactive since last September when he beat Kevin Holland after the pay-per-view card when shuffled due to Chimaev being unable to make the welterweight limit for his scheduled fight with Nate Diaz. Chimaev fought Holland at a 180-pound catchweight and submitted him in the first round.
Costa is coming off a decision win against Luke Rockhold in August 2022 after suffering back-to-back losses to champion Israel Adesanya and a light heavyweight fight with Marvin Vettori prior.
White added a middleweight fight with Nassourdine Imavov (12-4, 1 NC) against Ikram Aliskerov (14-1) for the UFC 294 card.
Aliskerov was set to fight Costa at UFC 291 later this month but both have been moved to the October card with new opponents.
