UFC veteran says UFC Abu Dhabi win will fund Las Vegas move

Lightweight Mike Davis has a clear financial goal driving his July 25 bout against undefeated Tajik prospect Nurullo Aliev at UFC Abu Dhabi: he plans to use his victory purse to relocate to Las Vegas, home of the UFC.

Davis (5–2 in the UFC) believes proximity to the promotion's hub will unlock his potential. The Meta Apex and T-Mobile Arena have become the UFC's most frequented venues in recent years, and Davis argues that living in Vegas will allow him to accept short-notice opportunities and fight more frequently. He already regularly trains at the UFC Performance Institute, the organization's state-of-the-art facility, and credits the environment with keeping him healthy.

"After this win, I plan to use the funds to move to Vegas," Davis said. "That way I'm closer to the UFC and I can be involved with the short-notice T-Mobile and Apex fights. I just want to be more active and more involved in what the UFC does."

Injuries have plagued Davis throughout his career, and he views daily access to the Performance Institute's training and medical staff as essential to staying fight-ready. "To be treated every single day, I'm not gonna be injured anymore, which means I can fight more often," he added.

Davis arrives off a knockout win over Mitch Ramirez that halted a loss to Fares Ziam. Aliev brings an undefeated record and three UFC wins since earning his contract through Dana White's Contender Series. Davis sees the matchup as an opportunity to make a statement: "I finish this guy and they won't overlook me anymore."