{"id":39446,"date":"2026-07-22T04:38:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T04:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/Dana-White-reveals-how-Fight-Island-changed-the-UFC-forever-202020"},"modified":"2026-07-22T04:38:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T04:38:46","slug":"dana-white-reveals-how-fight-island-changed-the-ufc-forever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/dana-white-reveals-how-fight-island-changed-the-ufc-forever\/","title":{"rendered":"Dana White reveals how Fight Island changed the UFC forever"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Dana
\nWhite<\/a> believes the
\nUltimate Fighting Championship<\/a> emerged from the Covid-19
\npandemic stronger because the promotion refused to stop
\nevolving.<\/p>\n

The UFC CEO reflected on the organization’s response when the
\nsporting world came to a standstill in the spring of 2020. While
\nmany organizations were forced to suspend operations, White said
\nthe UFC’s priority was finding a way to continue staging events
\ndespite widespread shutdowns and travel restrictions.<\/p>\n

\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The UFC CEO recalls creating Fight Island after pandemic
\nshutdowns threatened events<\/h2>\n

During his recent appearance on “The Pivot” podcast, White said
\nthat the promotion had three priorities as they entered the
\npandemic. They wanted to keep every employee on payroll, fulfill
\ntheir contractual obligations to fighters and continue delivering
\nevents for their broadcast partner, ESPN.<\/p>\n

\u201cI talked to the governor and told him I could put on fights,\u201d
\nWhite recalled, reflecting on the obstacles they faced. \u201cI just
\nneeded production guys. We could social distance, wear masks, do
\nall the things they required. And he told me I couldn\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

White said the UFC then began exploring alternatives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was like, \u2018Well, you know what? I\u2019ll go to a deserted island
\nsomewhere, set up an Octagon, and do it,\u2019\u201d White said. \u201cThat\u2019s how
\nFight Island was created, and our sport grew 77% during COVID.\u201d<\/p>\n

The UFC ultimately established its Fight Island bubble on Yas
\nIsland in Abu Dhabi, allowing the promotion to continue holding
\ninternational events while much of the sports world remained
\ndormant. This kept the UFC afloat and even led to a surge in
\npopularity.<\/p>\n

By April 2021, the UFC was once again welcoming fans to events in
\nthe United States, and three months later returned to T-Mobile
\nArena in Las Vegas for
\nUFC 264<\/a>, headlined by a trilogy bout between Dustin
\nPoirier<\/a> and Conor
\nMcGregor<\/a>. Looking back, White said the challenges of the
\npandemic reinforced the culture he has tried to build within the
\norganization.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why when it\u2019s time to run into the fire, my team runs with
\nme,\u201d he added. \u201cYou find out who everybody is when hard times
\nhit.\u201d<\/p>\n