White: UFC will hold Fight Island cards 'easily into next year'

We'll be seeing a lot more of Fight Island, according to Dana White.

Ahead of this weekend's UFC 251, which marks the first of four July cards set for Abu Dhabi, the UFC president said the promotion will likely return to the city in September or October before it continues to hold events at the island into 2021.

"They just shut down Las Vegas again," White said Friday, according to MMA Fighting. "All the bars just got shut down again like today. We're like back on Phase 1. California shut some stuff. I don't see anytime soon where we're gonna be flying people in from all over the world to the United States. We're gonna be (holding events in Abu Dhabi) easily into next year."

White added he's looking into buying a house in Abu Dhabi because he'll be spending an increased amount of time in the United Arab Emirates capital.

Abu Dhabi's Yas Island is scheduled to host shows on July 11, 15, 18, and 25. The company is expected to return to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for several cards in August, but that could change depending on how the coronavirus pandemic progresses in the UFC's hometown.