UFC 254
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas , United States |
| Products | Mixed martial arts events |
| Website | www |
UFC 254: Khabib vs. Gaethje was a mixed martial arts event organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on October 24, 2020, at the du Forum located on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The event was broadcast during prime local hours, with preliminaries beginning at 6:15 pm and the main card commencing at 10:00 pm Gulf Standard Time.
Background
The main attraction featured a unification clash for the UFC Lightweight Championship between the current titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov and the interim champion Justin Gaethje, who was previously the WSOF Lightweight Champion. Initially rumored for UFC 253, this matchup was officially scheduled for UFC 254. Additionally, former three-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion Michael Chandler was signed by the UFC to serve as a backup fighter and potential substitute.
A middleweight contest between former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier was postponed to this event after Whittaker withdrew from UFC 248 due to personal matters.
A featherweight bout expected to feature Yair Rodríguez against Zabit Magomedsharipov was canceled owing to Rodríguez’s recurrent injuries.
The light heavyweight rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cuțelaba experienced several delays caused by COVID-19 travel restrictions and positive test results before finally occurring at UFC 254. Promotional newcomer Isi Fitikefu was designated as an alternate for this fight.
In the welterweight division, the initially scheduled bout between Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos and Shavkat Rakhmonov changed when dos Santos withdrew because of a knee injury; he was replaced by Alex Oliveira.
A lightweight contest involving former champion Rafael dos Anjos and Islam Makhachev was removed from the card after dos Anjos tested positive for COVID-19; this matchup was later rescheduled for November.
In the women’s flyweight category, promotional newcomer Liliya Shakirova stepped in for Cynthia Calvillo, who withdrew due to COVID-19 protocols, to face former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Lauren Murphy.
A bantamweight fight featuring debutant Umar Nurmagomedov versus Sergey Morozov was canceled after Nurmagomedov required hospitalization; Morozov remained available as an alternate for a catchweight bout between Nathaniel Wood and Casey Kenney.
At the official weigh-ins, both Alex Oliveira (173 lbs) and Joel Álvarez (159.5 lbs) failed to make weight for their respective matches. Their bouts proceeded at catchweight, with Oliveira fined 20% of his purse and Álvarez fined 30%, both amounts awarded to their opponents Shavkat Rakhmonov and Alexander Yakovlev respectively.
Bonus awards
The following athletes were granted $50,000 bonuses:
- Fight of the Night: Casey Kenney vs. Nathaniel Wood
- Performance of the Night: Khabib Nurmagomedov and Magomed Ankalaev
Aftermath
After securing victory, Khabib Nurmagomedov declared his retirement from mixed martial arts competition, explaining that he had promised his mother he would not continue fighting without his late father, who died from heart complications while infected with COVID-19. "This was my final fight," Nurmagomedov expressed. "When UFC contacted me about facing Justin, I spoke with my mother for three days. She didn’t want me to compete without my father, but I assured her this would be my last fight. Once I give my word, I must honor it."
Viewership
UFC representatives announced three days prior to the event that media exposure spanned more than 50 countries, resulting in upwards of 23 million impressions.
In Russia, UFC 254 was broadcast on REN TV, drawing an audience exceeding 10.8 million viewers live and securing the top position in Russian TV ratings. Nationwide, the event achieved a 19.2% share among viewers aged 25-54, including a 25.7% share among men. In Moscow specifically, it attained a 19.8% share within that demographic and 26.8% male viewership.