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The card is the primary of 4 to be held at a purpose-built facility which is a part of a “safe zone” on Yas Island, east of town of Abu Dhabi and near the airport.
Three UFC titles shall be up for grabs on UFC ‘Fight Islands’ on Saturday (Courtesy- UFC Twitter)
HIGHLIGHTS
- The UFC’s ‘Fight Island’ venue will come into operation on Saturday
- Three title fights shall be held on Saturday
- The unique new location is situated on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island
The UFC’s “Fight Island” venue comes into operation on Saturday as UFC 251 takes place in Abu Dhabi, with three title fights and a set of well being and security measures in place as a result of persevering with COVID-19 pandemic.
The card is the primary of 4 to be held at a purpose-built facility which is a part of a “safe zone” on Yas Island, east of town of Abu Dhabi and near the airport.
The zone incorporates the battle venue and coaching services in addition to a number of lodges and eating places, and entry is strictly managed.
Fighters have been instructed to assemble at one in every of quite a lot of departure factors to be examined and quarantined earlier than travelling to the United Arab Emirates, with additional checks on-site each earlier than and after the occasion.
With the sporting calendar nearly worn out by the pandemic, Mixed Martial Arts was one of many first sports activities in the U.S. to stage occasions once more, with three playing cards in Jacksonville, Florida in May adopted by 5 on the UFC’s APEX facility in Las Vegas.
Despite the organisers’ greatest efforts, COVID-19 has nonetheless had an impression on the UFC 251 card as contender Gilbert Burns was dominated out of his welterweight title conflict with Kamaru Usman following a constructive take a look at for the virus.
He shall be changed in the principle occasion by the vastly well-liked Jorge Masvidal, whereas Alexander Volkanovski places his featherweight title on the road towards Max Holloway and Petr Yan and Jose Aldo go head-to-head for the vacant bantamweight belt.
The venue will host additional occasions on July 15, July 18 and July 25 earlier than UFC returns to Las Vegas. Volkanovski, nonetheless, mentioned the venue makes little distinction to the fighters.
“I usually adapt to whatever is in front of me, I just go through the process,” he advised reporters at a media occasion on Wednesday.
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