The UFC will be very busy once “Fight Island” is officially up and running.
On Friday, UFC President Dana White offered an update on plans to hold several cards on a private island starting in June. Just after the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe and crippled international travel, White and UFC co-owner Ari Emanuel devised a plan to host events on “Fight Island” to provide a home for athletes who would be unable to get into the United States.
The infrastructure is currently being built on the island with White previously confirming plans for a full training facility as well as an arena where the events will be held. Unless something changes, White anticipates the first event on “Fight Island” to happen within the next several weeks.
“Literally this morning I was driving to work and I was talking to Ari and Ari goes ‘how many people a day ask you where ‘Fight Island’ is?’ cause I guess people are blowing him up asking him where ‘Fight Island’ is,” White said during a live stream with ESPN. “People are very intrigued about ‘Fight Island’ and I’m excited for it.
“Right now, we’re looking at June and we’re literally going to knock out three or four fights there in a month. I’m going to stay on the island for a month. I’m going to go stay there. I’ll probably be there the whole month of July.”
While the UFC hasn’t made any official announcements, a proposed card on July 11 may end up as one of the events on “Fight Island.” A flyweight fight between Paige VanZant and Amanda Ribas is expected to take place on that date.
Assuming the UFC rattles off several shows in a row, “Fight Island” could end up as the destination for events from the end of June through July.