Dana White Reveals UFC 251, More Cards to Be Held on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi

UFC President Dana White announced Tuesday the promotion's Fight Island is located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates.

White also confirmed four fight dates at the new location: July 11, July 15, July 18 and July 25.

The UFC president appeared on ESPN's First Take to further discuss the announcement.

"Abu Dhabi has actually created this safety zone on the island; within 10 square miles on Yas island will just be inhabited by us," White said. "And it'll include an arena, hotels, training facilities for the fighters that are private, so the whole COVID-19 thing is covered. Dining establishments. And, yes, there is an Octagon on the beach."

Fight Island was created to give the UFC an alternative location for bouts with international fighters given the strict travel restrictions into the United States because of the coronavirus pandemic.

White cautioned last week in an interview with TMZ Sports that he was concerned the hype surrounding the plan may exceed what the company can deliver.

"The fantasy of Fight Island, I'm very worried it will eclipse the reality of Fight Island," he said. "The fighters are not going to walk out lined up with tiki torches on the side. I will not be sitting in a big throne overseeing the Octagon and watching the fight."

A welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns is set to headline UFC 251, which will kick off the Fight Island schedule July 11, per ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

The Fight Island schedule takes the UFC through the end of July. The remaining three events in June will be held at the promotion's APEX facility in Las Vegas.