Movsar Evloev Withdraws From UFC Abu Dhabi Co-Main Event

The UFC Abu Dhabi event scheduled for July 26, 2025, has suffered a significant setback as Movsar Evloev withdrew from his highly anticipated co-main event fight against Aaron Pico due to an injury or health issue sustained during training in Thailand. Evloev, undefeated with a 19-0 record and ranked second at featherweight, was set to face Pico, a former Bellator fighter making his UFC debut, in a pivotal five-round bout that could have determined the next featherweight title challenger. The fight's cancellation disrupts plans for Evloev to potentially challenge featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and leaves uncertainty about whether Pico will face a replacement opponent or if the fight will be rescheduled, possibly for UFC 319 in August. Despite the loss of this marquee matchup, UFC Abu Dhabi's card remains strong, headlined by a middleweight fight between Reinier de Ridder and Robert Whittaker, with other notable bouts featuring Shara Magomedov and Petr Yan. UFC officials, including Dana White, have yet to announce the next steps, but the promotion faces pressure to maintain the event's appeal with less than two weeks remaining. Fans and analysts await further updates on the fight card adjustments and the future of the Evloev-Pico matchup.