By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
For all the goofy “Fight Island” shtick and references to tiki huts and beaches, Las Vegas-based UFC is poised to use an international setting to stage four UFC events this month at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, one of the emirate’s popular entertainment destinations.
The Fight Island references caused a lot of snarky comments and even jokes by HBO comedian John Oliver, but the fact is UFC is deploying a dependable site and destination to hold international fight shows during a pandemic that has claimed the lives of 130,000 Americans.
The Fight Island series begins with the Pay-Per-View UFC 251 set for July 11 and then moves to three other Fight Night events — on July 15, 18 and 25. Keep in mind UFC’s roster of fighters includes many international fighters based around the world. They will travel to Abu Dhabi on private jets courtesy of UFC — case point:
To cope with the coronavirus pandemic, Abu Dhabi will create a safety zone within the nearly ten square miles of Yas Island, which will include an arena, hotel, training facilities, and dining establishments. This safety zone will only be open to UFC athletes and their coaches; UFC staff and other event personnel; and Yas Island employees who are necessary to ensure the operation of the facilities.
“We came up with the idea of having fights on ‘Fight Island’ because we needed a destination to hold international events during the global pandemic,” UFC President Dana White said. “Abu Dhabi has been an amazing location to hold fights over the past ten years and it is the perfect place for these events.”
White has been at the forefront of moving ahead with sports events at a time when people doubted they could be held in a safe manner. He staged the first major live sports event in the U.S. with UFC 249 in Jacksonville, Florida May 16 and then returned to UFC’s Las Vegas base to stage five consecutive Saturdays of live, spectator-free fight shows at the promotion’s Apex facility from May 30 through the month of June.
Meanwhile, the other sports leagues are forging ahead, too. Though there’s a sense of anxiety surrounding the re-starts of NBA, NHL and MLS. On Monday, the FC Dallas team in Major League Soccer dropped out of playing in the MLS Is Back Tournament in Orlando, Florida after a coach and 10 players tested positive for COVID-19 in Florida.
Meanwhile, the NHL said at least 35 players have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to this league statement.
“As of Monday, July 6, the NHL has had 396 Players report to Club training/practice facilities for optional participation in Phase 2 activities. There have been in excess of 2,900 COVID-19 tests administered (including more than 1,400 this past week) to this group of Players. Those tests have resulted in a total of 23 returning confirmed positive test results for COVID-19.
“In addition, since June 8 (the opening of Phase 2), the League is aware of 12 additional Players who have tested positive for COVID-19 outside of the Phase 2 Protocol. All Players who have tested positive have been self-isolated and are following CDC and Health Canada protocols. The NHL will continue to provide regular updates on the number of tests administered to Players and the results of those tests. The League will not be providing information on the identity of the Players or Clubs.”
Plus. several NBA and Major League Baseball players said they will not play in games when the NBA resumes later this month and the MLB starts a 60-game schedule July 23-24.
In the face of the pandemic, UFC and White’s fierce, single-minded “I’m-in-the-fight-game” approach to life has generated revenue through PPV buys like the 700,000 buys for UFC 249 at Jacksonville on May 16.
And because UFC is more nimble than the sports team leagues because the Las Vegas MMA promotion doesn’t need player union approvals, White can call a fighter like colorful showman Jorge Masvidal off the bench with six days notice to replace solid Gilbert Burns in the UFC 251 main event against Kamaru Usman at Fight Island after Burns tested positive for COVID-19. Burns had defeated former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in a headline fight at the fan-free Apex May 30.
“This is doable. You can do it,” UFC Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein told the Sports Business Journal before he was flying Abu Dhabi. “I know we have some structural advantages. But we’ve been able to figure this out with the help of some great consultants in the infectious disease space, some great consultants in the testing space.”
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