Published: 11:07, June 10, 2020 | Updated: 00:53, June 6, 2023
UFC chief White says Abu Dhabi 'Fight Island' to host UFC 251
By Reuters

In this March 25, 2014 photo, Dana White, President and CEO of the UFC, addresses the audience during a press conference in San Juan Puerto Rico to promote the sport on the island in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (ANGEL VALENTIN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) chief Dana White said on Tuesday the mixed martial arts promotion’s “Fight Island” was located in Abu Dhabi and it will host four events next month including UFC 251.

The three championship fights in UFC 251 will be headlined by the welterweight bout between challenger Gilbert Burns and champion Kamaru Usman

White had said in April that the UFC was close to securing a private island to stage bouts for international fighters unable to enter the United States due to travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said Yas Island was being prepared to host UFC 251 on July 11 and three Fight Night events — on July 15, 18 and 25 — with all the infrastructure needed being set up at the venue which is less than a mile from the international airport.

“Everything will happen on the island,” White said on the UFC’s Facebook page. “Nobody will leave the island.

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“They’re going to have their own private training quarters where people can train themselves.

In this Dec 13, 2019, file photo, Kamaru Usman poses during the ceremonial weigh-in event ahead of his fight against Colby Covington in UFC 245 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (CHASE STEVENS / LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL VIA AP, FILE)

“We really do have an Octagon (for training) out in the sand. The infrastructure’s going to be unbelievable. The people in Abu Dhabi do everything right.”

The three championship fights in UFC 251 will be headlined by the welterweight bout between challenger Gilbert Burns and champion Kamaru Usman.

The UFC postponed several events scheduled between March and May due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, which has killed over 110,800 people in the US.

The promotion resumed action without fans present on May 9 in Florida.