[imagesource: UFC / Insider]

Back in April, UFC president Dana White announced plans for what he dubbed ‘Fight Island’.

That didn’t quite pan out for the April 18 event, but UFC events have continued in more familiar locations, with UFC 249, held at VyStar Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida, going down as a classic.

White was not to be deterred, though, and he’s now revealed the location of ‘Fight Island’. It was initially thought that the island would be some far-flung location, but in reality, it’s around a 20-minutes drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

This via CBS Sports:

 White announced on Tuesday it will promote four major events between July 11 and July 25 on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates capital city of Abu Dhabi…

“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 said in a statement. “Abu Dhabi has been an amazing location to hold fights over the past 10 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.”

To ensure the safety of the UFC athletes, coaches, staff and other event personnel, a safety zone of 10 square miles will be created on the island, which includes the arena, hotel, dining, and training facilities.

Here’s White’s tweet from yesterday, with a video that doesn’t give much away:

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

— danawhite (@danawhite) June 9, 2020

We do know that there will be three championship fights in UFC 251, which will take place on July 11, headlined by the welterweight fight between challenger Gilbert Burns and champion Kamaru Usman.

The cards of the other three Fight Nights, On July 15, 18, and 25, remain unclear.

[sources:cbssports&bleacherreport]