UFC’s Dana White Claims He Is Securing Private Island to Host Fights

The UFC 249 event on April 18 may be the first fight to move to the island

Dana White coronavirus
UFC President Dana White speaks to the media during UFC 246. (Getty)
Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

According to UFC president Dana White, the Octagon will be moving to a private island in the near future.

Speaking with TMZ, White said he is “day or two away” from securing a private island to host upcoming fight nights. Originally scheduled to be held April 18 in New York City, the upcoming UFC 249 event could be the first fight White will host on his island. 

“We’re getting the infrastructure put in now so I’m going to start doing the international fights too,” he said. “I won’t be able to get international fighters, all of them, into the U.S., so I have a private island. I’m going to start flying them all into the private island and doing international fights from there. So as of April 18, the UFC is back up and running.”

Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was due to take on Tony Ferguson in New York at UFC 249, but he is currently in quarantine in Russia. Instead, Justin Gaethje will replace him.

Citing safety as his highest priority, White said everyone from production staff to fighters will be screened thoroughly by a medical team before being allowed into the venue where the fights will be held.

By doing that, UFC will be “pumping out fights every week,” according to White.

The fights will be streamed exclusively on ESPN and only a select few members of the media will be permitted to attend. Also, White said fighters may not know where they are headed before they get on the plane.

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