UFC president Dana White is excited ahead of UFC Fight Island. Chris Whiteoak / The National
UFC president Dana White is excited ahead of UFC Fight Island. Chris Whiteoak / The National
UFC president Dana White is excited ahead of UFC Fight Island. Chris Whiteoak / The National
UFC president Dana White is excited ahead of UFC Fight Island. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UFC Fight Island: 'It's about to get wild on the island' claims promo video for the Abu Dhabi festival


John McAuley
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First there was the official poster, and now there's the first promo video for UFC 251 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi – and Dana White is excited.

The world’s lead mixed martial arts promotion returns to the capital next month with UFC 251 kicking off a series of four events in the space of two weeks.

The inaugural Fight Island opens with a blockbuster card on July 12 UAE time, boasting three world title fights and headlined by welterweight champion Kamaru Usman defending his crown against Gilbert Burns.

In the co-main event, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski takes on former titleholder Max Holloway in a rematch of their December clash, while Peter Yan and Jose Aldo scrap for the vacant bantamweight title.

Created to allow the UFC’s international fighters to compete during the coronavirus pandemic, Fight Island will take place on Yas Island and follows on from UFC 251 with events on July 15, 18 and 25.

The promo video, entitled "Can't Hold Us Down," is a nod to White's determination to get the sport back up and running amid the crisis. The UFC was the first major sport to return, when it staged UFC 249 on May 10.

White tweeted the video early Monday, with the UFC president adding: “So PUMPED for fight island!!!!”

While a one-off event, White has said that the UFC could be "going back and forth to Abu Dhabi" all the time the coronavirus limits global travel, suggesting more Fight Island shows could be on the horizon.

Fans can watch Fight Island through UFC Arabia.

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​​​​​​​Scribe

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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