What was supposed to be a seminal Abu Dhabi card, as these PPVs have come to be known, turned out to be a massive disappointment. UFC 321 was supposed to deliver on all fronts, with two title fights to close out the show. Instead, we got what many are describing as the worst pay-per-view card of the year. While Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba fought a five-round decision, it wasn’t exactly the kind of fight one would expect from a strawweight title fight, with multiple takedowns and ground exchanges going nowhere.

The action on the feet was also nothing to write home about. And the main event? Well, that double-eye by Ciryl Gane on Tom Aspinall, resulting in a no-contest, left fans in attendance and at home thoroughly disappointed. To add to this card’s abysmal reputation, another development has cast a shadow on the event, i.e., the release of two fighters, one of whom won his fight. We’re talking about Kazakhstan’s Azat Maksum and Egypt’s Hamdy Abdelwahab.

Two cut; one expected, the other out of the blue?

For Maksum, the writing had been on the wall. The Kazakh flyweight’s once-promising record crumbled after another frustrating defeat, this time against heavy underdog Mitch Raposo. Despite his physical advantages, ‘Qazaq’ couldn’t keep up with Raposo’s speed and accuracy. The American recovered from a sluggish start, ripping Maksum apart with some crisp boxing and strong takedown defense.

It is worth noting that Azat Maksum also lost a point in the final round due to a fence grab, the final nail in his UFC career. 27-year-old Mitch Raposo’s emotional post-fight reaction stood in stark contrast to Maksum’s quiet exit, signaling the end of a brief run in the biggest MMA promotion in the world. But while this was a release fans saw coming from a mile away, Abdelwahab’s release, though, was a shocker for all.

The Egyptian heavyweight emerged victorious over fan favorite Chris Barnett at UFC 321 despite grinding through some pain, a point deduction, and fatigue. “I didn’t care at all,” Abdelwahab told reporters later. “I know I’m dominating this fight. Take a point, take a round, I was looking for the finish.”

Despite admitting that he may have fractured his hand early in the first round, he refused to slow down. His grit and determination were supposed to be the attributes that the UFC valued. “I think I broke my hand in the very first round when I was doing ground and pound,” stated the fighter. “That’s why I started throwing elbows. I told myself between rounds, ‘It doesn’t matter, I’m going to keep going.’”

That approach propelled him to a unanimous decision victory, with scores of 29-26, 29-27, and 29-27. It wasn’t spectacular, but it was dominant, which made his departure from the roster even more baffling. While Maksum’s exit felt procedural, Abdelwahab’s dismissal suggested something deeper: perhaps a business move, disciplinary action, or an internal decision unrelated to performance.

Whatever the cause, it served as a reminder that in the UFC, winning does not always mean safety. In a sport where one poor night may end a career, UFC 321 proved that even a good one may not be enough, even if you are getting involved in a budding feud that might’ve proven really beneficial to the Dana White-led promotion.

Valter Walker refused his dream UFC fight against Hamdy Abdelwahab

For a moment, Hamdy Abdelwahab’s gritty win seemed like it could spark something exciting: a new rivalry that could have lifted the mood following UFC 321’s dramatic finish. On the same card, Valter Walker continued his heel-hook run and promptly called out Abdelwahab, sparking a buzz online and among fans. A battle between the Egyptian wrestler and the Brazilian submission artist seemed like a logical next step.

However, when the smoke cleared, that promising matchup never came to life. Walker, who made history with four consecutive heel-hook finishes, was not subtle in his challenge. He criticized Abdelwahab’s physique, labeling him a “Chocolate Peppa Pig”, a joke that went viral and drew both laughter and outrage. Behind the humor was a clear message: ‘The Clean Monster’ did not believe Abdelwahab’s wrestling credentials and wanted to expose him.

Backstage, Valker Walker further reiterated his statement, claiming he intended to bring “six heel hooks for Brazil.” However, Hamdy Abdelwahab never responded, and with his sudden release, the potential clash vanished. What might have been a headline-making feud for the Middle Eastern market turned into another “what if” from UFC 321, leaving Walker with a viral moment but no opponent to match the fire he’d sparked.