UFC president Dana White is working towards rebooking the postponed match-up between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev for Abu Dhabi next month.
The highly anticipated clash was initially scheduled for Las Vegas next week, however Edwards had to withdraw from that slot having contracted Covid-19.
White told Canadian network TSN late on Thursday that plans are now for the welterweights to headline an event on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi on January 20, as part of a three-show International Fight Week.
The run, still to be confirmed by the UFC or local organisers, is expected to conclude with Conor McGregor’s much-awaited comeback against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. The capital has already hosted two Fight Island series, the most recent of which concluding in October.
Speaking to TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, White said Fight Island was targeted for the UFC’s opening three events of 2021 – January 16-23 – with the hope to that fans could attend - should they test negative for Covid-19.
In line with public health guidelines at the time, the first two residencies took place without spectators and inside a safe-zone “bubble”. The newly built Etihad Arena on Yas Island has been mooted as a potential host venue.
Regarding fan attendance, White said: “We’re still looking at that stuff. In a perfect world, if I could pull this thing off, we go to Fight Island again and it’s like International Fight Week.
"We’re doing all cool things that week for people to fly in, hang out, watch fights, Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday.”
White also said he "could be" looking at booking Justin Gaethje against Michael Chandler for UFC 257. Gaethje competed on Fight Island in October, at UFC 254, losing his lightweight unification bout to undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
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Gallery: Khabib beats Gaethje at UFC 254
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UFC 254 GALLERY: Dagestan fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his victory over Justin Gaethje of the US after their lightweight title bout on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his victory over Justin Gaethje. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov clinches his victory over Justin Gaethje via a second-round triangle choke at Flash Forum. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov takes down Justin Gaethje. Getty -
Justin Gaethje kicks Khabib Nurmagomedov. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov punches Justin Gaethje. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov after his victory. Getty -
Australian fighter Robert Whittaker lands a punch during his victory over Jared Cannonier of the US in their middleweight bout. Getty -
Robert Whittaker after the fight against Jared Cannonier. Getty -
Jared Cannonier punches Robert Whittaker. Getty -
Robert Whittaker punches Jared Cannonier. Getty -
Dagestan's Magomed Ankalaev celebrates his KO victory over Ion Cutelaba of Moldova in their light heavyweight bout on UFC's Fight Island, in Abu Dhabi. Getty -
Magomed Ankalaev knocks down Ion Cutelaba. Getty -
Magomed Ankalaev punches Ion Cutelaba. Getty -
Russian fighter Alexander Volkov celebrates his victory over Walt Harris of the US after their heavyweight bout. Getty -
Alexander Volkov punches Walt Harris. Getty -
Walt Harris punches Alexander Volkov. Getty -
US fighter Lauren Murphy celebrates her victory over Liliya Shakirova of Uzbekistan after their women's flyweight bout. Getty -
Lauren Murphy punches Liliya Shakirova. Getty -
Liliya Shakirova and Lauren Murphy during their bout. Getty -
US fighter Phillip Hawes lands a punch during his 18-second victory over Jacob Malkoun of Australia in their middleweight bout. Getty -
Phillip Hawes punches Jacob Malkoun. Getty -
Phillip Hawes celebrates his KO victory over Jacob Malkoun. Getty -
Phillip Hawes celebrates his KO victory over Jacob Malkoun. Getty -
Kazakhstan's Shavkat Rakhmonov on his way to victory over Alex Oliveira of Brazil in their welterweight bout. Getty -
Alex Oliveira lands a kick on Shavkat Rakhmonov. Getty -
American fighter Casey Kenney lands a punch and his way to victory over Nathaniel Wood of England in their catchweight bout. Getty -
Nathaniel Wood punches Casey Kenney. Getty -
Australian Tai Tuivasa lands a punch on Stefan Struve of the Netherlands on his way to victory in their heavyweight bout. Getty -
Stefan Struve lands a kick on Tai Tuivasa. Getty
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Meanwhile, the fight between Edwards and Chimaev pits against one another two of the top-rated welterweights in the UFC.
The division’s third-ranked challenger, Edwards has not fought in July last year, while Chimaev was the breakout star of the original Fight Island.
The Chechen, who is based in Sweden, made his debut in July and then was in action again 10 days later – creating history for the shortest turnaround between bouts.
In September, he moved to 3-0 in the UFC by defeating Gerald Meerschaert in 17 seconds in Las Vegas.
