No longer Dana White's dream, UFC's Fight Island is real

imry evoked by Dana White's crazy idea was undeniably intoxicating: An octagon perched amid swaying palm trees on a white sand beach, waves lapping at canvas while mixed martial arts fighters tred blows in tropical sun.

A few months later, project that came to be kwn as Fight Island is real and rey for competition.

And while Fight Island is t exactly idyllic scene evoked by its name, octagon inside an air-conditioned arena on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island also sits inside a bubble that seems highly unlikely to burst.

“It's biggest thing we've ever undertaken,” White said. “I’m always of mindset that re is a solution for every problem."

coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented problem for modern professional sports, but White leverd UFC's vants in mobility and size to get back into full-scale competition much more quickly than or leagues and tours. White said he never worried about wher he should keep staging shows, but only worried about where he would be allowed to do it, and how he could do it safely.

UFC went only eight weeks without competition before staging eight events in Jacksonville and Las Vegas, but White knew he would quickly run out of U.S.-based fighters if he couldn't find a venue less encumbered by travel restrictions.

So he partnered with his longtime friends in Abu Dhabi's government to create a fight oasis. Rar than a deserted tropical parise, Yas Island is a modern tourist destination with amusement parks, malls and a Formula One racetrack. Dozens of fighters and ir camps have alrey traveled from around world to Fight Island, where y're relaxing in luxury hotel rooms and training for ir shows.

Fight Island will host four UFC events in 14 days, starting with three championship fights at UFC 251 this weekend. Although UFC will return to Las Vegas in August, White told AP he believes UFC will be back at Yas Island repeatedly this year, and perhaps beyond.

“Fight Island is indefinite right w,” White said. “I love it re. On this trip, I’ll probably go looking at eir houses or a condo to buy over re. Incredible restaurants, hotels. It’s a great place.”

Roughly six square miles of island have been set apart as a “safe zone” for roughly 2,000 people involved in UFC’s production over next three weeks. locals went through a 14-day quarantine, and everyone inside safe zone has passed several coronavirus tests.

organization is following same health and safety protocols that appeared to work splendidly over past two months. promotion has anunced only a few positive tests, with minimal schedule disruptions and significant outbreaks.

White mits he has significant vants over his counterparts in charge of team sports. He has more than 20 to 24 athletes in his shows, which are individual events largely run by a well-trained, veteran group of employees. UFC even handles all television production of its own fights for ESPN and its international clients.

“Athletes that are involved in combat sports are more in tune to making sure y've got clean environments,” UFC chief operating officer Lawrence Epstein said. “Wher it's bacterial infections or or things that can happen if you don't keep your clean and don't start with proper hygiene. We’re sort of used to being a little bit safer than everybody else, and also, our athletes are used to undergoing a tremendous amount of testing.”

Epstein says UFC is er to help any sports entity who wants vice, calling ir plans “open source code.” White also kws ir methods might t be feasible to meet challenges faced by or U.S. leagues.

“I have 600 fighters under contract,” White said. “ NFL has God kws how many football players (nearly 2,000). It’s so hard to control se people. y’re all grown ults. y can do what y want to do. I honestly don’t kw how to give any of se or guys vice. For se or leagues, it’s more a financial problem than anything, a massive financial burden on sports leagues. Losing season ticket holders, concessions, parking, it's devastating."

UFC is bolstered by its $1.5 billion rights deal with ESPN and its pay-per-view income, which is likely to be robust this summer. While NFL and college football look for ways to have fans in stands this fall, White is “running this business right w like re won’t be fans. It’s t even a consideration right w.”

Although White and UFC have been leers in sports world since start of pandemic, boss still has a few doubts about most experts' recommendations on public health.

When asked if he thinks Americans should be wearing masks in public places, White — an ardent Donald Trump supporter who has also backed Democratic politicians, including former Sen. Harry Reid of Neva — pauses and chuckles.

“I don’t kw,” White said. “I don’t kw answers to se questions. This whole thing is so mind-boggling to me. I don’t kw what truth is. I honestly don’t kw how to answer that question. ... But yeah, everybody has to wear a mask on Yas Island.”

Im credits: AP