UFC Is Back In A Big Way As Dana White Reveals ‘Fight Island’ Location

PREVIOUSLY: Dana White Confirms ‘Fight Island’ Will Open On July 11 But Explains It May Be Less Cool Than Hoped

Dana White has revealed Yas Island, Abu Dhabi as the location for UFC Fight Island. When quarantine began, nearly three months ago, Dana White teased the idea of shipping UFC fighters to an isolated location where they could be quarantined together and safely fight. The idea has come to fruition and the actual event is right around the corner.

Appearing on @FirstTake, UFC President @danawhite revealed Yas Island in Abu Dhabi to be the location of “Fight Island.”

Four @UFC events will take place on “Fight Island” during the month of July, beginning with UFC 251 on July 11. pic.twitter.com/RbAnsMgg0n

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 9, 2020

That’s right, not even a global pandemic can rob us of the joy of watching sweaty people in spandex beat each other’s faces in. Yas Island will host four events for UFC 251 with the first Fight Night on July 11, followed by fights on July 15, 18, and 25.

#UFCFightIsland starts July 11, 15, 18 and 25th YAS Island, Abu Dhabi #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/JGLioBhw4c

— danawhite (@danawhite) June 9, 2020

The featured fight includes Kamaru Usman defending his welterweight title against teammate Gilbert Burns. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will take on Max Holloway in a rematch of their 2019 bout, and finally, Petr Yan and former 145-pound king Jose Aldo will square off for the vacant bantamweight title. Details for the final three fights have yet to be made public, but Dana White was quoted on ESPN’s First Take saying that the July 11 show will be the blockbuster UFC 251 pay-per-view headlined by a trio of title bouts.

Abu Dhabi has created a 10-square-mile safety zone on Yas Island that will only be inhabited by the fighters, press, and a few others closely affiliated with the event. It includes an arena, hotels, private training facilities, and, yes, an arena that is literally on the beach. I know I wouldn’t sign up to take a beat down from the likes of Kamaru Usman, but the rest sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Dana White is calling it “an experience that none of us will ever forget” and says that he can’t wait to deliver a slate of amazing fights.

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