UFC confirms 1st 3 events of 2021 will be on Fight Island
A return to Fight Island will kick off the UFC's 2021 slate.
UFC president Dana White confirmed Tuesday that the promotion will return to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi for its first three events of the year, culminating with Conor McGregor's return against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 on Jan. 23.
Dana White just shared this poster on his Instagram story, seeming confirming Fight Island events for Jan. 16, Jan. 20 and Jan. 23 as well as the headliners for each card. pic.twitter.com/9LxASNJSUr
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) December 22, 2020
The third stint on Fight Island starts with two Fight Night events - one on Jan. 16 and headlined by former featherweight champion Max Holloway versus Calvin Kattar, and another on Jan. 20 and headlined by the rescheduled bout between welterweights Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev.
It's been widely expected the UFC would begin the year on Fight Island after two hugely successful trips to Abu Dhabi in 2020.
January's events will mark the promotion's first fights outside of the UFC Apex since October.
McGregor will take on fellow lightweight contender Poirier in his first bout since earning a 40-second TKO win over Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in January.