Fans to attend Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier II and UFC’s ‘Fight Island’ events this month

A limited number of fans are set to be allowed at the UFC’s three events on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi this month, marking the first time that crowds will be present at one of the promotion’s cards since UFC 248 in March last year.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the UFC to hold almost all of its remaining events in 2020 at their Apex complex in Las Vegas and Flash Forum on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island – otherwise known as ‘Fight Island’. 

Each card took place without fans in attendance, but that is set to change for all three of the UFC’s January events, which will be held on ‘Fight Island’ over the space of nine days.

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Unlike last year’s events on Yas Island, which were held in the temporary Flash Forum structure, this month’s cards will take place at the new Etihad Arena. It is unclear exactly how many fans will be allowed in the 18,000-capacity venue for each event.

The UFC’s first card in 10 months to welcome fans will be the event headlined by former featherweight champion Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar on 16 January.

Michael Chiesa takes on Neil Magny in the main event of the following card on 20 January, and UFC 257 – which sees a highly-anticipated rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier on 24 January – will round out the month’s events.

“I’m pumped to start the year with a straight week of great fights – Saturday, Wednesday and Sunday – for fight fans all over the world with a Fight Island triple-header,” said UFC President Dana White.