It’s been a turbulent week for the UFC, but Dana White is still working on a solution to host live fights.
The promotion was forced to pull the plug on UFC 249 and all scheduled events in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak after top-level executives at both Disney and ESPN intervened and asked him to stand down.
But White is still planning to go ahead with his “Fight Island,” which he says is currently being set up and will serve as both a training ground for fighters and a venue for events.
“That’s why I’m telling all my guys not to worry because ‘Fight Island’ is gonna happen,” White told ESPN. “All the infrastructure is being built right now and getting put in place. As we get closer to that, then I’ll start figuring out booking fights, getting guys ready. Plus, I can ship guys over there earlier, and they can start training over there, on the island.
“So, once that’s all in place – we’re looking at like a month – I’ll have that all put together, and guys can start training and can go there. I’m sure people are gonna be ready to get out of their houses in another month and go to an island somewhere and train.”
Before all events were indefinitely suspended, UFC 249 was scheduled to take place at Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, Calif., which White plans on rewarding with an event to show his gratitude for their support, once things return to normal.
“One thing I need to point out is that Tachi Palace in California, the Indian reservation, has had our back this whole time and has stood their ground and was willing to do this fight,” White said. “Let me tell you this: When the world gets back to normal, the California event will be at Tachi Palace. I’m doing a fight there. I’m going to bring them a big fight, and I appreciate them standing with me in this thing.”
White also stated his intention to make sure the UFC was ahead of the curve when it was time for the sports world to get back on its feet again, and said that he fully intends on bringing live fights back onto our screens as soon as possible.
“We will be the first sport back,” he stated. “‘Fight Island’ is real. It’s a real thing. The infrastructure is being built right now and that’s really going to happen. It will be on ESPN.”
