Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Office, has met with UFC president Dana White to discuss the success of the recently concluded “Return to Fight Island”.
The UFC's second residency in the capital drew to a close early on Sunday with UFC 254, where Khabib Nurmagomedov retained his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje and then announced his retirement from the sport. The Russian was undefeated in all 29 professional bouts.
“Return to Fight Island”, which began with UFC 253 on September 27, comprised five events in all and was staged inside a specifically created safe zone on Yas Island. The inaugural series was hosted there in July.
Sheikh Khalid, who met White alongside Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak and Saif Saeed Ghobash, was said to have “commended the quality of the events that brought together top fighters from different countries and attracted viewers from around the world, thanks to the strong partnership Abu Dhabi has with the UFC”.
Abu Dhabi signed a five-year agreement with the world’s lead mixed martial arts organisation last year.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office said White “expressed his gratitude to Abu Dhabi for hosting Fight Island twice this year despite Covid-19 measures and with the highest standards of health and safety, reaffirming Abu Dhabi’s status as the new home of UFC”.
White told The National earlier this month that he hoped to bring a third Fight Island run to the emirate by February.
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UFC 254: Khabib beats Gaethje in Abu Dhabi
