The UFC has confirmed the location of “Fight Island” with the promotion set to hold events on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi beginning July 11th.
UFC president Dana White appeared on ESPN’s First Take and spoke with UFC broadcaster Laura Sanko on the details.
The first event on the island is scheduled to be the UFC 251 pay-per-view on July 11th followed by shows on July 15th, July 18th, and July 25th.
White spoke on ESPN and confirmed the following fights for UFC 251 next month:
*Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns for the UFC welterweight title
*Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway for the UFC featherweight title
*Petr Yan vs. Jose Aldo for the vacant bantamweight title
*Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade
*Amanda Ribas vs. Paige VanZant
There will be a safety zone of ten square miles that will only be open to UFC fighters and personnel with an octagon on the beach with the following description from the promotion:
To accommodate existing public health guidelines, DCT Abu Dhabi will create a safety zone within the nearly ten square mile (25 km2) 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.
ESPN had reported on the featherweight title rematch between Volkanovski and Holloway on Monday night while the location of Yas Island was first reported by Raphael Marinho of Combate.
The company has previously run events on Yas Island with the UFC 112 event in April 2010 and UFC 242 in September 2019.
CONFIRMED! 🏝@DanaWhite provides all the details for #UFCFightIsland which will be happening #InAbuDhabi. @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/QjIVpmO0ru
— UFC (@ufc) June 9, 2020
