Dana White announces Fight Island will be located on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and will host UFC 251 in July
UFC have announced that Fight Island is ready and will host UFC 251.
Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island is the location and it’s one of the Emirate’s most popular leisure, shopping and entertainment destinations – far from the deserted tropical paradise some were imagining. This seems more like a rental.
White had kept his cards close to his chest regarding the location, but he has finally revealed Fight Island’s location
UFC will produce four events on Yas Island, including UFC 251, and three Fight Nights.
UFC 251 takes place on Saturday, July 11, and will be followed with successive Fight Nights on Wednesday, July 15; Saturday, July 18; and Saturday, July 25.
The promotion’s president, Dana White revealed welterweight champion Kamara Usman will defend his belt against Gilbert Burns, who just defeated Tyron Woodley, given UFC were unable to reach a deal with Jorge Masvidal.
Alexander Volkanovsk and Max Holloway rematch from UFC 245 for the UFC featherweight title, while Petr Yan and Jose Aldo battle it out for the vacant bantamweight title to make it three title fights on one card.
Usman will defend his welterweight title at UFC 251
White also revealed Paige VanZant will take on Amanda Ribas and Rose Namajunas will take on Jessica Andrade for a second time after their UFC 249 rematch was cancelled.
To accommodate existing public health guidelines, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism will create a safety zone within the nearly ten square mile Yas Island that will include an arena, hotel, training facilities, and dining establishments. It will essentially resemble an Olympic village.
This safety zone will only be open to UFC athletes and their coaches, UFC staff, other event personnel and Yas Island employees who are necessary to ensure the operation of the facilities.
White has always said Fight Island would be ready by July and he has been true to his word
“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,” White explained.
“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.”
In 2010, the UFC actually had an event on Yas Island – UFC 112 – that was headline by Anderson Silva.
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