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Through the joint efforts of the UFC and the visionary DCT Abu Dhabi, Yas Island was transformed into an exclusive venue for UFC to resume its events. The du Forum became a secure bubble, implementing rigorous health and safety measures to combat the spread of coronavirus. This stringent control over the venue, allowing only those authorised by the UFC to enter or exit, underscored the importance of safety in these unprecedented times.
On Tuesday, June 9th 2020, UFC president Dana White announced that Fight Island would be in Abu Dhabi. It was a monumental moment in the organisation’s history, sparking a wave of excitement among MMA and sports fans. After months of sports deprivation, the UFC’s plan promised to be a beacon of hope, marking the first major event to be televised worldwide.
The first event was UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal on July 12th 2020. It was a three-title fight card with bantamweights Petr Yan and Jose Aldo, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway at featherweight, and Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal at welterweight topping the bill in an eerily quiet showcase due to no fans being in attendance. A further three cards took place in July 2020, which helped reignite the UFC.
In total, an unprecedented nine UFC events took place on Fight Island – rounding off with Khabib Nurmagomedov maintaining his UFC Lightweight Championship against Justin Gaethe on October 24th, 2020. It provided a fitting and raucous end to Fight Island. But UFC fans will never forget the Fight Island legacy that provided some light during dark times.