After months and months of suspense, Dana White and the UFC have finally revealed details about the mysterious Fight Island. UFC president Dana White had stated on several locations that he had “secured an island” where the UFC would hold international fights, mostly in response to coronavirus global travel restrictions.
White has described the island as “secure” and that infrastructure has been in the works for months. The hope is that Fight Island will accommodate fighters traveling in and out of the country, while also allowing them to stay on the island safely before and after events. This doesn’t seem to be just any island that was purchased to host fights, but a tourist destination of the highest order.
Here’s what we know about “Fight Island”, also known as Yas Island.
The UFC officially announced that Fight Island is actually Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, a manmade island on which the UFC has previously held events. Believe it or not, the island seems to hold more than just fighting events, as it already features three theme parks and has a fourth currently under construction. There is also full infrastructure in place, including an airport, seven hotels, a golf course, and an arena. It would not be out of the realm of possibility to have casinos in place as well to bet on the events.
White has done an amazing job scheduling out a flurry of events over the next few weeks to kick off his growing empire. The first event on Fight Island will be UFC 251 on July 11 (Usman vs. Burns). There will also be subsequent events on July 15, 18, and 25.
UFC has also announced a statement regarding health guidelines during the pandemic:
“To accommodate existing public health guidelines, DCT Abu Dhabi will create a safety zone within the nearly 10 square miles (25 km2) Yas Island that will include an arena, hotel, training facilities, and dining establishments,” a statement on UFC.com reads. “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.”
