Getty Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer introduces the main event during the UFC 237 event at Jeunesse Arena on May 11, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It has been reported that Dana White, the president of the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion — the UFC — is looking to host events on a private island. According to TMZ, White is in the process of securing a private island which will act as the home base for the promotion.
As per the report, the UFC won’t be taking place on the island for the next couple months, but once the deal is done, fighters will be flown to the island via private planes to compete. It’s unclear where the island is located.
As per the report, the location of UFC 249, which is scheduled to take place on April 18, will not take place on this island — and the following fight cards for the next two months won’t either. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani has reported that UFC 249 will take place somewhere in western U.S.A.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto also chimed in about the island, reporting that the “Private island idea is for international fighters, so not only the US based athletes have a spot to fight.”
Because of the COVID-19 coronavirus global pandemic, travel restrictions have been placed on many countries, which affects international fighters. UFC 249 was supposed to be headlined by lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, however because he lives in Russia, he faced a travel ban which ultimately knocked him off the card.
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UFC 249 Has a New Main Event & Fight Card, Still Scheduled for April 18
Even though the world has been thrust into a global pandemic, the UFC has decided that it will continue to run events. Because of that, UFC 249 is set to take place on April 18 — the location of the event had not been revealed.
With Khabib having to drop out of his main event fight against the No.1 lightweight contender, Tony Ferguson, the UFC has scheduled a new headlining match. It will be Ferguson fighting the No. 4 ranked Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje for the interim lightweight belt.
Because of COVID-19, many fighters were forced off of the card. The UFC revealed the full fight card on Monday evening:
THE WHOLE CARD 🤯
See you on ESPN+ PPV. #UFC249
UFC 249 will take place on April 18, and it will feature 12 matches:
Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje
Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas
Greg Hardy vs. Yorgan De Castro
Vincente Luque vs. Niko Price
Jeremy Stephens vs. Calvin Kattar
Francis Ngannou vs. Jairinho Rozenstruik
Uriah Hall vs. Jacare Souza
Alexander Hernandez vs. Omar Morales
Marlon Vera vs. Ray Borg
Michael Johnson vs. Khama Worthy
Sijara Eubanks vs. Sarah Moras
Ryan Spann vs. Sam Alvey
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The UFC Aims to Host Events on a Fight Island: Report