Back to the MMA Newsfeed

Arabian Fights: How UFC Fight Island became a sales pitch for Abu Dhabi

Beginning with UFC 251 on Saturday night, the UFC will host four events — a Pay-Per-View and three Fight Night events — over a period of 15 days in pseudo-isolation on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

While this is not the first time that the UFC has held an event on Yas Island — see UFC 242 — it is the first time that a series of stringent health regulations have been taken to create a 10-mile “safe zone” specifically for the promotion’s fighters and staff on the premise. The bespoke infrastructure erected by the Abu Dhabi government makes it an essential component of the UFC’s live event business amid the global pandemic.