Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) walked through that door at UFC 317 in June, when the former featherweight champion moved up in weight and knocked out Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant 155-pound belt left behind by Makhachev as he jumps divisions in his own career and readies to challenge welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena later this year.

SportsLine's Daniel Vithlani reveals his picks for the UFC Fight Night fight card from Etihad Arena at Yas Island in Yas West United Arab Emirates on Saturday

UFC on ABC 9 took place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday afternoon, with former champion Robert Whittaker facing Reiner de Ridder in the main event.

Robert Whittaker got $21,000 compares to Reinier de Ridder's $4,500 in Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay at UFC Abu Dhabi.

UFC 319 has been needing a legit co-main event and today, we learned what that co-main event would be. At UFC Abu Dhabi this afternoon, it was announced that Aaron Pico (13-4) would be making his highly anticipated octagon debut in the co-main event of the next PPV against the undefeated Lerone Murphy (16-0-1).

Mohammad Yahya faced off against Steven Nguyen on the prelims of UFC Abu Dhabi, suffering a gnarly eye injury that is one of the worst you will ever ser.

Yan (19-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) made it three-straight wins after defeating Marcus McGhee in Saturday's UFC on ABC 9 co-main event at Etihad Arena. Yan was asked about the possibility of facing Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) next, but after their initial planned booking in June fell through, he's no longer interested.