What is Fight Island?published at 20:10 British Summer Time 24 October 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov v Justin Gaethje
UFC president Dana White came up with the idea in a bid to continue hosting MMA events during the pandemic.
UFC London on 21 March became the first UFC event to be cancelled and broadcasters told White to "stand down" from letting UFC 249 go ahead on 18 April.
While trying to organise events behind closed doors in the United States, White announced a plan to stage fights on an island for international fighters restricted from travelling to the US.
So UFC began holding events with no fans in Jacksonville and Las Vegas, before White confirmed on 9 June that Fight Island would take place on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island.
It is far from the desert island UFC fans initially envisaged; fighters won't be arriving by boat. Instead they're flying to a five-star leisure resort which has already staged three UFC events in 2010, 2014 and UFC 242 last September, when Khabib Nurmagomedov beat Dustin Poirier in his last fight.
Spanning an area of 9.6 square miles, Yas Island has hosted Formula 1's Abu Grand Prix since 2009; staged music concerts by the likes of Beyonce, Madonna and the Rolling Stones; has several theme parks including Ferrari World, which boasts the world's fastest rollercoaster; plus a shopping mall, a golf course, a marina and a beach.
As White promised, there really is an "octagon on the sand", but the fights don't take place there - they're staged in the Flash Forum.
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