UAE Warriors 71: Rudnev vs. Mezhlumyan title fight set for Abu Dhabi

UAE Warriors 71 will take place on May 9 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The event will be held at Space42 Arena and continues the promotion’s run of international MMA cards in the region.

The main event will feature a lightweight title bout between Martun Mezhlumyan and Vladislav Rudnev, with the championship belt on the line.

In recent years, Abu Dhabi has established itself as one of the key hubs of global MMA, regularly hosting major events and investing in the development of combat sports. UAE Warriors, based in the UAE, operates within this ecosystem, building internationally diverse fight cards and serving as a platform for athletes aiming to move on to larger promotions.

The organization works in partnership with local sports entities, while its operational partner, Palms Sports, plays a significant role in developing martial arts and sports infrastructure in the country.

Mezhlumyan enters the fight with a professional record of 15–3 and is considered one of the more experienced fighters in the division. He has remained a consistent contender within UAE Warriors and now gets another opportunity to compete for the title.

Space42 Arena

His opponent, Vladislav Rudnev, remains undefeated with a 12–0 record. The Ukrainian fighter is stepping into his first title fight and is widely regarded as one of the rising prospects in the division. This bout will represent a major test in his career.

The matchup brings together two contrasting trajectories — an established contender with experience inside the promotion and an undefeated challenger making his first push at championship level.

UAE Warriors 71 continues the promotion’s series of international events in Abu Dhabi and is expected to attract a global audience.