UFC 253 will be the promotion’s massive offering for the month of September. However, the company hasn’t finalized a location for the event. Initial reports led fans to believe that the UFC Apex would play host to the middleweight title match between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa on September 19. However, UFC President Dana White has hinted at a return to Asia for events.
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In a chat with Complex, he said, “We’ll be announcing that soon, but obviously it’s looking like Fight Island.”
The UFC hosted four events in 14 days on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The cards featured a plethora of international fighters. With the pandemic showing no signs of slowing down, Fight Island seems to be the UFC’s only option to allow their entire roster to compete.
Dana White feels Abu Dhabi will be the fight capital of the world
White stated that the catchphrase “fight capital of the world” could be bestowed on Abu Dhabi saying, “A lot of the big fights that are international are going to be on Fight Island. I told everybody the last time we were there. People sort of thought this was a one-and-done or whatever, it’s not.
“We’re going to be at Fight Island. Abu Dhabi is going to end up being the fight capital of the world. I’m telling you. It definitely isn’t Las Vegas.”
The Flash Forum on Fight Island features a full-size 30-foot Octagon. Hence, the middleweight championship fight being contested on Fight Island may upset the challenger, Paulo Costa. Despite saying that the size of the octagon doesn’t matter, he hinted at a small cage being helpful for him to catch ‘The Last Stylebender.’
Read: “Small Cage Is Easier to Get Him”- Paulo Costa Prefers 25 Foot Cage for the Israel Adesanya Fight
However, based on the UFC President’s claims, both ‘Borrachinha’, from Brazil, and Adesanya, who is based in New Zealand, qualify as international fighters involved in a big fight.
Whilst nothing official yet, White’s comments could imply that the announcement is just a formality.
What do you make of Abu Dhabi becoming the new fight capital of the world in the pandemic? Will the Flash Forum play host to UFC 253?
Sources: Complex-YouTube