The UFC is heading to Fight Island next month with a four pack of events, starting with UFC 251 on July 11 and ending with UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till on July 25.
There have been reports that the UFC planned on conducting coronavirus testing on everybody involved with the event before they even headed to Fight Island, but the plan is more widespread than that.
MMA Junkie has obtained the UFC’s coronavirus testing protocol for the Fight Island events, which can be seen below:
UFC ‘Fight Island’ travel system
Fighters and corners will have the option to take a charter flight out of one of four “hub” cities (Las Vegas, London, Sao Paulo, or Moscow).
Exceptions will be made for fighters and corners unable to travel to one of those four locations due to immigration restrictions. Those fighters and corners will board “specially-commissioned” flights directly to Abu Dhabi.
Fighters and corners not located in a “hub” city will take a commercial flight to one of the four options.
Fighters and corners flying out of Las Vegas will have to arrive 36 hours prior to their departure to Abu Dhabi.
Fighters and corners flying out of London, Sao Paulo, or Moscow will have to arrive 48 hours prior to their departure to Abu Dhabi.
Fighters and corners should expect potentially arriving in Abu Dhabi days ahead of schedule – or departing Abu Dhabi days behind schedule.
Fighters and corners competing on the first three events should anticipate potential post-fight flight delays due to flight schedules.
Pre-Abu Dhabi testing
Fighters and corners will be required to provide negative COVID-19 tests, which will take place 24-48 hours prior to departure to Abu Dhabi.
Fighters and corners scheduled for specially-commissioned flights to Abu Dhabi will have a COVID-19 test arranged for them by the UFC.
Testing in Abu Dhabi
Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi, fighters and corners will be tested for COVID-19 at the airport.
Fighters and corners will arrive at the VIP terminal and be brought to a secure area in the airport for their tests.
Fighters and corners will then be transported to the hotel.
Fighters and corners will quarantine in their rooms until airport test results are given (wait time: less than 12 hours).
Upon getting results, fighters and corners will be tested a second time for COVID-19 – this time, in their hotel rooms.
After the second test, fighters and corners will once again quarantine in their rooms until hotel room test results are given (wait time: less than 12 hours).
Fighters and corners will undergo further COVID-19 testing 24-48 hours prior to the event – and one additional time before departing Abu Dhabi (more details to follow).
