The UFC kicks off its stint on Fight Island in a big way this weekend. The Abu Dhabi-based shows launch with UFC 251, what would have been the card anchoring International Fight Week. Of course, given the ongoing global pandemic, that fan-friendly affair is off.
Instead, the UFC has set up shop on Yas Island, hastily renamed Fight Island, for one of its biggest cards of 2020. Three title fights lead the pack, plus appearances by Paige VanZant, Rose Namajunas, Volkan Oezdemir, and more.
Weigh-ins will be held Friday morning (eastern time) — check back for updates!
Within the first hour or so, all three title fights were official. Masvidal was the last among the six fighters vying for belts to hit the scales. But on six days notice, he hit 170lbs.
Two fighters were heavy on Friday: Raulian Paiva missed the flyweight limit. It appears his fight will move forward. Vanessa Melo was the last to hit the scales and missed the bantamweight limit by a full 5lbs.
UFC 251: Usman vs. Masvidal
Main Card (PPV)
Welterweight: Kamaru Usman (c) (170) vs. Jorge Masvidal (170) – for the UFC welterweight title
Featherweight: Alexander Volkanovski (c) (145) vs. Max Holloway (145) – for the UFC featherweight title
Bantamweight: Petr Yan (135) vs. José Aldo (135) – for the vacant UFC bantamweight title
Women’s Strawweight: Jéssica Andrade (115) vs. Rose Namajunas (116)
Women’s Flyweight: Amanda Ribas (126) vs. Paige VanZant (126)
Preliminary Card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Light Heavyweight: Volkan Oezdemir (205.5) vs. Jiří Procházka (205)
Welterweight: Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (171) vs. Muslim Salikhov (171)
Featherweight: Makwan Amirkhani (146) vs. Danny Henry (146)
Lightweight: Leonardo Santos (156) vs. Roman Bogatov (155.5)
Early Preliminary Card (ESPN / UFC Fight Pass / ESPN+)
Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura (252) vs. Maxim Grishin (223)
Flyweight: Raulian Paiva (129)* vs. Zhalgas Zhumagulov (126)
Women’s Bantamweight: Karol Rosa (136) vs. Vanessa Melo (141)**
Bantamweight: Davey Grant (136) vs. Martin Day (136)
* Raulian Paiva missed weight by 3lbs for his flyweight bout
** Vanessa Melo missed weight by 5lbs for her bantamweight bout
