Dana White Insists “Fight Island is Real”, Following Cancellation of UFC 249

UFC 249 is no longer going down on April 18th, and it looks like the UFC’s plans to host events at that same location have been shelved. But, according to Dana White, the UFC will be holding cards on “fight island”.

White comments on UFC 249 cancelation

Earlier this week the UFC announced that UFC 249 was going through, as White repeatedly insisted it would, despite the ongoing, coronavirus pandemic.

At the time, White said that the UFC had secured a location on the west coast of the U.S. (later to be reported that it was the Tachi Palace Resort and Casino in California), and that international events were going to be held on a private island.

Well, fast forward to Thursday, and it was announced that executives with Disney and ESPN, the UFC’s broadcasting partner, asked that the UFC shut down operations for now (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“Today we got a call from the highest level you can go at Disney and the highest level of ESPN,” White said in an interview with ESPN.

“One thing that I’ve said since we’ve started our relationship and partnership with ESPN is that it’s been an incredible one. It’s been an amazing partnership.

“ESPN has been very, very good to us, and the powers that be there asked me to stand down and not do this event next Saturday.”

And in a prepared statement from the company, the UFC announced.

“While the organization was fully prepared to proceed with UFC 249, ESPN has requested the postponement of the event and subsequent bouts until further notice in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

UFC looks forward to resuming the full live events schedule as soon as possible.”

Now, considering that the California State Athletic Commission was not going to oversee the event, and because various officials relayed the UFC should not hold any cards right now, this news shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. 

Although the Association of Boxing Commission and Combative Sports was reportedly set to sanction the event,  clearly ESPN and Disney determined moving forward with events in California right now is too risky. 

White insists “fight island is real”

And what about the fight island?  While talking to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, White said this.

“We will be the first sport back,” White said. “‘Fight Island’ is real. It’s a real thing. The infrastructure’s being built right now, and that’s really going to happen and it will be on ESPN.”

So, we’ll see what happens with this, but if you’re skeptical, that’s understandable. It remains to be seen how the UFC plans to mitigate the risks of spreading the coronavirus, via fighters and camps traveling to and from the island.

There are also questions about how fighters will receive medical attention if they’re injured in bouts. But, White has insisted the UFC has plans to address these issues.