The UFC has run a multitude of events during the coronavirus pandemic, with those events being held in Brazil, Florida, Nevada and Abu Dhabi.
UFC President Dana White believes that due to how many major fights have happened and will happen in Abu Dhabi, it will make Abu Dhabi look like the new fight capital of the world.
“The shows that we bring here, this is the only international destination for fights,” White told The National. “So all the biggest and the baddest fights coming up that we have are going to be here. If you look at our roster of champions, they’re from all over the world. So the biggest, baddest fights over the next God knows how long are going to be here in Abu Dhabi. That’s why I’m saying Abu Dhabi is going to be looked at as the new fight capital of the world. It used to be Las Vegas. It definitely isn’t Las Vegas right now.”
Fight Island, which is in Abu Dhabi, has been the home of four title bouts in the last two weeks, with more big fights expected to happen there in the Fall.
White also says that Khabib Nurmagomedov’s next fight, as well as Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas and the return of Conor McGregor could happen in Abu Dhabi.
“Khabib will be the next,” White said. “We’re talking about Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa, that fight happening. Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas is a possibility. All the massive, big fights with literally the champion vs. the No. 1 contender are all looking like ‘Fight Island,’ Abu Dhabi. Everybody keeps asking me about Conor. He’s retired right now. He and I have not talked. I don’t know. Obviously, if Conor comes back and wanted to fight, ‘Fight Island’ is where he would be. So, yeah, he would be here in Abu Dhabi.”
Up next for Abu Dhabi and Fight Island is UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till, which is set for this coming Saturday Night.
