Prepare for UFC Fight Island as soon as June 27, according to UFC president Dana White.
White, appearing on Eddie Hearn’s “Talk the Talk” podcast, revealed that the promotion is moving forward with events taking place on a yet-to-be disclosed island later this month.
“The fight first on ‘Fight Island’ is probably going to be around June 27, not July,” White said (thanks to MMAjunkie for the quotes).
As the promotion continues to put together cards, that date has been rumored for a five-round lightweight main event between former interim UFC champion Dustin Poirier and fellow top contender Dan Hooker. Also, Sara McMann vs. Aspen Ladd in a female bantamweight bout.
“Let me tell you about ‘Fight Island,’” White said. “‘Fight Island’ is so (expletive) expensive, and so (expletive) crazy and almost impossible to pull off. When you’re talking about planes flying people in and you have to quarantine people and all these things that we’re going through – it’s (expletive) insane to be even trying to do this. But I promise you, we will do it and we will pull it off.
“I believe in doing this, it’s going to help grow the sport immensely. It’s going to help financially, and many different ways it’s going to help build the sport – and I just know that we can do it. But let me tell you how hard it is and how crazy this whole thing has been, man. While people were laying in their (expletive) pools enjoying the pandemic, I’ve been over here smoking my executive staff – burning these guys out, man. It’s crazy.”
The UFC is currently holding the second of three planned events in Las Vegas from the UFC Apex. The promotion returned from an extended break due to the coronavirus pandemic with three events in Jacksonville, Florida.
They have also mentioned Arizona for future cards as more and more states continue to open back up and allow live sporting events to take place minus fans in attendance.