Confirmed: UFC Fight Island to take place in Abu Dhabi next month

UFC president Dana White has confirmed that the first-ever ‘Fight Island’ concept will take place on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi next month.

In an Instagram post, he revealed to his 4.6 million followers that the events would take place on July 11, 15, 18 and 25.

It is being organised in association with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and will include one Pay Per View – UFC 251– on July 11, followed by three fight nights on July 15, 18 and 25.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#UFCFightIsland starts July 11, 15, 18 and 25th YAS Island, Abu Dhabi #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi

A post shared by Dana White (@danawhite) on Jun 9, 2020 at 8:41am PDT

UFC said in a press statement that details for each of the events, including fight cards, will be announced over the next few weeks.

This Fight Island concept has been devised specifically in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and is aimed at meeting all necessary health and safety standards while protecting athletes and participants.

“To accommodate existing public health guidelines, DCT Abu Dhabi will create a safety zone within the nearly ten square mile 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,” it added.

CONFIRMED! ?@DanaWhite provides all the details for #UFCFightIsland which will be happening #InAbuDhabi. @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/QjIVpmO0ru

— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2020

In 2019, UFC and DCT Abu Dhabi entered into a five-year partnership to bring UFC events to the emirate.

The first event, UFC 242: Khabib vs Poirier, held under the new agreement attracted more than 14,000 fans to Yas Island last September.

The agreement to bring UFC Fight Island to Abu Dhabi next month is a continuation of that agreement.

Next month’s event will air live on global broadcasters around the world and on Pay-Per-View in select markets.

In the UAE and the rest of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, it will be streamed on UFC Arabia app, its first Arabic language streaming subscription service.

“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,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.

“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,” added Al Mubarak.

“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,” said Dana White.

“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”.