The UFC has confirmed its return to Abu Dhabi next month with a third Fight Island series, featuring three events in eight days and culminating with Conor McGregor’s long-awaited comeback at UFC 257.
While the promotion’s upcoming run in the capital had been expected, UFC president Dana White announced the news on social media on Tuesday night.
White uploaded a fight poster to his Instagram Stories confirming Yas Island as the location for two Fight Nights, on January 16 and 20, and UFC 257 on January 23. It is understood that the final event will fall early January 24 in the UAE.
The UFC has yet to announce a venue – both previous Fight Island residencies played out at Flash Forum – but the newly built Etihad Arena is expected to host.
Fight Island 3 will kick off with an event headlined by former featherweight champion Max Holloway against Calvin Kattar, while the second Fight Night will feature at the top of its card a mouthwatering welterweight clash between No 3-ranked challenger Leon Edwards and the fast-rising Khamzat Chimaev.
The UFC’s latest series will conclude with McGregor's rematch against Dustin Poirier, which takes place at lightweight.
The Irishman, a former two-division champion and arguably the biggest draw in mixed martial arts, has not fought since last January. Poirier, meanwhile, has competed in Abu Dhabi once before, losing his lightweight unification bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in September last year.
Earlier this month, McGregor's management said the 32-year-old was looking better in training than he had for almost a decade. Speaking to The National, Audie Attar, founder and CEO of Paradigm Sports Management, said: "I've never seen Conor like this. It's about the challenge, the competition, being the best version of ourselves. And that's fun for me to see. The skill level is on another level."
McGregor marked his comeback to the sport in January following a 14-month hiatus when he defeated Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds at UFC 246 in Las Vegas. However, frustrated with a lack of attractive options offered to him by the UFC, in June he announced his retirement. It was the third time in four years that McGregor said he was stepping away.
The UFC’s initial two Fight Island runs took place in July and then in September though to October, featuring four and five events respectively.
Holloway, Kattar and Chimaev have all previously fought on Fight Island, with the latter creating history in July by winning consecutive bouts 10 days apart - his first two appearances in the promotion.
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UFC 251 generates big numbers
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Kamaru Usman of Nigeria celebrates after his victory over Jorge Masvidal in their welterweight championship fight during the UFC 251 event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi in July 2020. Getty -
Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal talk after their fight. Getty -
Jorge Masvidal punches Kamaru Usman. Getty -
Jorge Masvidal punches Kamaru Usman. Getty -
Alexander Volkanovski of Australia celebrates after his split-decision victory over Max Holloway in their UFC featherweight bout. Getty -
Max Holloway kicks Alexander Volkanovski. Getty -
Petr Yan of Russia celebrates after his TKO victory over Jose Aldo in their UFC bantamweight fight. Getty -
Petr Yan of Russia elbows Jose Aldo of Brazil. Getty -
Petr Yan punches Jose Aldo. Getty -
Rose Namajunas celebrates after her split-decision victory over Jessica Andrade in their strawweight fight. Getty -
Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade trade punches. Getty -
Rose Namajunas lands a punch on Jessica Andrade. Getty -
Amanda Ribas of Brazil celebrates after her victory over Paige VanZant in their flyweight fight. Getty -
Paige VanZant knees Amanda Ribas. Getty -
Amanda Ribas kicks Paige VanZant. Getty -
Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic celebrates after his knockout victory over Volkan Oezdemir in their light heavyweight fight. Getty -
Jiri Prochazka and Volkan Oezdemir exchange blows. Getty -
Volkan Oezdemir of Switzerland punches Jiri Prochazka. Getty -
Muslim Salikhov of Russia reacts after his decision victory over Brazil's Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in their welterweight fight. Getty -
Muslim Salikhov punches Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. Getty -
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos Brazil punches Muslim Salikhov. Getty -
Makwan Amirkhani of Finland after his win over Danny Henry in their featherweight fight. Getty -
Makwan Amirkhani after his submission victory over Danny Henry. Getty -
Makwan Amirkhani secures an anaconda choke submission against Danny Henry. Getty -
Leonardo Santos of Brazil reacts after his decision victory over Russia's Roman Bogatov in their lightweight fight. Getty -
Leonardo Santos punches Roman Bogatov. Getty -
Roman Bogatov and Leonardo Santos trade punches. Getty -
Roman Bogatov kicks Leonardo Santos. Getty -
Marcin Tybura of Poland celebrates after defeating Russia's Maxim Grishin in their heavyweight fight. Getty -
Maxim Grishin punches Marcin Tybura. Getty -
Maxim Grishin punches Marcin Tybura. Getty -
Marcin Tybura grapples with Maxim Grishin. Getty -
Brazil's Raulian Paiva after his decision victory over Zhalgas Zhumagulov of Kazakhstan in their flyweight fight. Getty -
Zhalgas Zhumagulov punches Raulian Paiva. Getty -
Zhalgas Zhumagulov punches Raulian Paiva. Getty -
Raulian Paiva punches Zhalgas Zhumagulov. Getty -
Brazil's Karol Rosa celebrates after her victory over countrywoman Vanessa Melo in their bantamweight fight. Getty -
Karol Rosa of Brazil before the fight on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Erica Elkhershi / The National -
Karol Rosa punches Vanessa Melo. Getty -
Karol Rosa punches Vanessa Melo. Getty -
Vanessa Melo punches Karol Rosa. Getty -
Davey Grant of England after his knockout victory over countryman Martin Day in their bantamweight fight. Getty -
Davey Grant punches Martin Day. Getty -
Martin Day kicks Davey Grant. Getty -
Davey Grant launches a flying knee against Martin Day. Getty -
A general view of the Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island prior to the UFC 251 event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Erica Elkhershi / The National -
A general view of the Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island prior to the UFC 251 event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Erica Elkhershi / The National -
A general view of the Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island prior to the UFC 251 event on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Getty Images / Zuffa LLC -
A general view of the Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island prior to the UFC 251 event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. John McAuley / The National -
A general view of the Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island prior to the UFC 251 event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. John McAuley / The National
