[waves crashing]
[birds calling]
[dramatic music]
>> Saeed: We got a call somewhere around April,
that Dana has a dream to create a Fight Island.
♪♪
It was in the back of his mind that nowhere else in the world
could have delivered such a massive event
with all the operational elements coming together
as we see around us than Abu Dhabi.
It was a massive undertaking.
I think the main priority for us has been
the health and safety of everyone involved.
In order to create this Covid-free bubble,
some of which were people like me and the rest of the team,
about 1,600 of us being quarantined in our room
for two weeks on Fight Island
before we could actually get out
after having three negative tests each,
and then we have every 72 hours,
everyone on this island needs tested just to make sure
that we are maintaining the integrity of this bubble.
♪♪
>> To bring this project to life was something
that we're all proud of.
Locking an island with 11 kilometers square.
Every single part of the project is a big undertaking.
♪♪
>> We're gonna bring you out to the front desk
and run a couple things by you quick
before you go to your room.
>> Okay.
♪♪
>> Set up is pretty simple.
Once fighters, the staff come in,
they come in, they check in with us.
We have them fill out their information and take their temp.
They go to the back.
They get tested.
And then after that, they're officially on lockdown
until the test results come back.
Once you get the results, the next morning,
you still have to stay in your room until
the shuttle comes to pick you to take you to the airport.
So, the key for us to make sure
this is full lockdown facility.
We don't want any outside exposure.
We don't wanna take any chances.
>> Hey, you wanna take your temp now?
>> Yeah.
>> Come on over.
So, let me get your temp real quick.
Okay.
First name, last name.
You'll check both boxes here.
♪♪
>> This virus is the first pandemic
many people have lived through
and it's certainly one that the whole world has gone through.
A lot of work has gone on in the background,
hundreds of hours.
You know we have learned so much from
when we first started testing and I think we're ready.
>> That's it, you're good.
>> Ooh, that's weird man.
It stays with you for a little bit.
Wait.
That didn't count as a cough.
That didn't count.
Oof, alright.
So, now this means-- so now the rule is
go to your room and don't come out.
>> Basically, you've gotta lock down to the hotel.
♪♪
>> [sigh], well I got my results back.
Came back positive.
It's more embarrassing than anything.
Because I gotta walk around with the scarlet letter.
Guess the universe had other plans for me, so.
I'm gonna wait this thing out
and, um, like I said, remain positive.
Keep moving.
♪♪
>> Once they've been confirmed negative in
their port of origin, they are allowed to get on the flight.
♪♪
>> Etihad Airlines.
We're heading to Fight Island, baby.
♪♪
>> Hello.
Good to go. Thank you so much.
>> Oh, my gosh.
>> How're you guys doing today?
>> We're doing good, thank you.
>> You seem really excited to be going to Abu Dhabi.
I'm really happy for you.
>> I think this is the nicest flight I've ever been on.
>> Oh, fantastic.
>> I'm excited to be here.
>> Well, I'm excited to have you guys too.
>> Thank you.
This is amazing.
I could get used to flying like this.
♪♪
>> We just live in wild times right now.
It's a new world right now and just crazy.
♪♪
>> We have 11 charters coming from 4 destinations:
Nevada,
London,
Moscow,
and Sao Paulo.
The planes are managed by Etihad Airways.
We have the pilots and crew that are quarantined 14 days
before operating these flights.
So we've created a safe bubble,
even with the charters and with the air transport staff
to make sure that there is no risk with any interaction
from any of the delegates that are managing this project.
>> Woman on Intercom: Good evening, and welcome to Abu Dhabi.
The local time here is 10 minutes to midnight.
We hope that you have a pleasant stay in our home Abu Dhabi
and enjoy the UFC Fight Island event.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you so much.
>> Thank you very much. Enjoy.
♪♪
>> We landed here.
We're gonna get quarantined for another 48 hours.
It's gonna be crazy.
It's gonna be like staying on a plane,
double, triple, four times the time.
So, I just can't wait for it, you know.
We got a couple-- couple more of this mini fights
with the Covid 19 testing, and then after that,
it's showtime.
So, I can't wait.
>> Saeed: Once they land in Abu Dhabi,
they are chaperoned by police escort
from the airport all the way into the safe zone.
♪♪
The efforts that we've put in place here in Abu Dhabi
to make sure that there is absolutely no possible way
we are putting anyone at risk have been immense.
The luggage, anything that was brought into Fight Island,
whether it's the staff or the athletes,
everything has to be sanitized before going into the zone.
♪♪
>> Good evening.
♪♪
>> Saeed: When it comes to testing, which is
one of the major components of creating this bubble,
the safe zone, we've worked very closely
with the Department of Health
to ensure that there are best in class guidelines
and each one of the properties that we have on Fight Island
has a dedicated room to conduct testing.
>> How are you? >> Good, good.
I like your outfit. >> Thank you.
Long flight. Wanted to be comfortable.
>> Exactly.
♪♪
>> One of-- one of the many tests that I've already taken.
Just another one that I gotta pass.
Then that's it.
Go check into my room.
I think I've got 48 hours in quarantine
until the results come back.
Then after that, it's-- let's get to work.
I'll be working out in my room a lot,
cutting weight, moving.
I got a lot of weight to lose, so I still gotta get to it.
Get my mind ready, just isolation.
Anyway, usually in Fight Week, for me,
I like to be by myself a lot of the times.
>> Aah. Aah.
>> Aaaah.
[coughing]
>> Thank you.
>> Sorry.
♪♪
>> Saeed: You know, 8,000 tests is a massive amount of tests
to be conducted on such a small number of people.
But again, the health and safety of everyone involved
is our top priority.
♪♪
>> Noura: Everything that goes within the logistics
of creating this zone is something
that we don't see anywhere in the world.
♪♪
>> How's that sound, Megan? Is that better?
I have my volume all the way up.
>> Okay.
♪♪
>> Noura: Our measures are really extreme
and we're trying to protect everyone from the international
or the local delegates to have a free Covid 19 zone.
♪♪
>> Good to see so many people in here.
We can actually mingle.
Right now.
>> UFC 251 takes place Sunday, July 12th
from UFC Fight Island.
And with that, we can open up questions for Alex Volkanovski.
>> Reporter: How do you feel about Max himself,
who has never, like, really conceded defeat.
He's always sort of, I guess, insinuated
that he thought he did enough to win the fight.
>> Man, you know, it's-- again, like, I think
he's just quite salty about the whole thing,
to be honest.
It's quite surprising.
I didn't think he would be a bit of a sore loser.
But, that's sorta my take on it.
>> You've had plenty of time to look back on December
and the first match with Alex.
How do you do that, you said at the time,
you'd take lesson from that and you'd learn from that.
What have you learned?
>> I learned not to leave it in the judges' hands.
♪♪
The hardest part of that last fight was the decision.
It didn't go my way
and that's probably the hardest thing ever.
You know, it was pretty sad, if you ask me.
>> You know, obviously, I'm using that as motivation.
You know, this way I've got something to prove.
That's why I'm gonna go out there.
I'm gonna finish him.
>> That's just the way it is.
>> How's the lighting?
>> Beautiful.
[heavy breathing]
>> Cringe, that's for you.
♪♪
>> Ah! >> Okay.
>> You wanna scramble?
>> Yeah, let's scramble.
Ready?
>> You're gonna let me choke you out.
>> I still don't think you can.
♪♪
>> You got me.
Hey!
♪♪
Hey!
>> Okay, alright.
[laughing]
♪♪
>> That's it.
Good.
[unintelligible]
♪♪
>> You can definitely tell they're taking every precaution.
That's clear.
So, you know, at least everything that we need to do
to get to the fight.
It goes to show you just how strong the network
that the UFC and just the reach that they have is.
Like, all this is thrown together in what,
literally, months.
And you can see that no expense was spared
as far as making sure that we're safe
and we're going to these fights the best way possible, so.
I'm looking forward to it.
Saturday, UFC 251, I can't wait!
♪♪
>> Noura: 251 is-- is a baby of mine, I think.
The whole Fight Island is my 4th baby.
I'm away from my family.
I have 3 kids and a husband back home.
20 minutes away from the safe zone,
but I can't see them.
And every single morning,
I wake up feeling proud that I'm part of this project
that is showcasing the destination to the world,
showcasing the health and safety measures
that are taken within this project.
It's something that we're all proud of.
♪♪
>> Jon: Jessica Andrade versus "Thug" Rose Namajunas.
♪♪
>> Saeed: The Covid 19 situation that the whole globe is facing
has been difficult to navigate for many countries,
governments, sports, individuals,
and we've proven in Abu Dhabi that we're able to overcome.
♪♪
And I think we set the standard for what a safe
Covid-free world class event
with facilities looks like in the future.
♪♪
>> I'm very excited.
I mean, nobody does it like these guys do.
I mean, you're here, you see it, you walk around.
First of all, there's been 8,000 tests
leading into this weekend.
8,000 tests.
There's no other thing on earth going on like this.
People have been flown in from 5 hubs, from all over the world,
and when you come to do a live event,
nobody does it like Abu Dhabi.
Nobody.
♪♪
>> This was not only the blueprint,
but it's the gold standard.
♪♪
Nothing is impossible in Abu Dhabi.
♪♪