The UFC officially announced that Fight Island will be in Abu Dhabi with 4 events happening in July per promotion press release.
UPDATED: The UFC has confirmed that Jose Aldo and Petr Yan will fight at UFC 251 for the vacant UFC Bantamweight title. This may push Shevchenko-Calderwood to a Fight Night main event.
Dana White came up with the plan as a way to work around travel restrictions in light of the global pandemic affecting the company’s event schedule.
The UFC will produce 4 events on Yas Island including UFC 251 and three Fight Nights per the company release. UFC 251 will take place on Saturday, July 11th followed by a Fight Night event on July 15th. Then there will be a Fight Night on July 18th and 25th.
Via UFC press release:
To accommodate existing public health guidelines, DCT Abu Dhabi will create a safety zone within the nearly ten square mile (25 km2) Yas Island that will include an arena, hotel, training facilities, and dining establishments. This safety zone will only be open to UFC athletes and their coaches; UFC staff and other event personnel; and Yas Island employees who are necessary to ensure the operation of the facilities.
HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Our partnership with the UFC, now in its second year, has proved to be one of our most successful ventures in recent years. Thanks to their commitment and cooperation, we are proud to announce that Abu Dhabi will host the first ever “Fight Island” event, marking the long-awaited return of UFC fights to the global stage.”
He added: “We have worked closely with all government entities in Abu Dhabi to ensure that the staging of this historic event complies with the highest standards of safety for the athletes, coaches, and all UFC personnel as well as the safety of our community. This year, Abu Dhabi has successfully proven its ability to handle all challenges and promote the well-being of its visitors and residents; and today, we are here to showcase the best that our capital has to offer, as we look forward to opening our doors once again to the world.”
UFC President Dana White commented: “We came up with the idea of having fights on ‘Fight Island’ because we needed a destination to hold international events during the global pandemic. Abu Dhabi has been an amazing location to hold fights over the past ten years and it is the perfect place for these events. The infrastructure we are building will be such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the fighters that’s never been done before – from the arena, the private training facility, and the Octagon on the island – it’s going to be an experience that none of us will ever forget. I can’t wait to deliver amazing fights from Yas island.”
UFC 251 will be headlined by Kamaru Usman defending his welterweight title against Gilbert Burns. In addition, the UFC is trying to book the rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway for the UFC Featherweight Title. Also, Valentina Shevchenko is rumored to defend her Flyweight title against Joanne Calderwood in a bout that was postponed from March.
Payout Perspective:
The logistics and execution of these events will be interesting to watch as we will see what type of protocol will be in place in Abu Dhabi to protect fighters and everyone else involved from COVID-19. While Fight Island captured the imagination of many dreaming of a tropical location and fights on a beach, Yas Island, which last hosted a UFC event this past September was probably a better fit for these events. With a location already set and the UFC having an existing relationship, this made the most sense. Also, travel-wise, this probably helps all fighters that will be making there way there.
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