UFC Fight Island 'the biggest announcement ever for MMA in the region'

Voice of UFC in the Middle East Mohammed Al Hosani says July's Fight Island trumps UFC 242

Mohammed Al Hosani hopes to be calling the shots from ringside during UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

It’s only been announced, and remains a month away, but Mohammed Al Hosani is already kind of in training.

That much makes sense, given he’s participating in four UFC events across two weeks next month, a whirlwind of an occurrence packaged as the headline-grabbing-yet-still-barely-believable Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

But Al Hosani’s not competing on Yas Island, of course. He’s calling the action.

“Never,” says the Emirati with a laugh, when asked if he’s previously commentated on a quartet of UFC events in such a confined period.

On Tuesday, Abu Dhabi was confirmed as host of the inaugural, and potentially one-off, Fight Island that begins with a UFC 251 on July 11 comprising three championship bouts and taking place in a specially marked "safe zone" on Yas. Three more events follow, on July 15, 18 and 25.

For Al Hosani, considered the voice of mixed martial arts (MMA) in the Middle East, there won't be much time to catch breath.

"It's going to be tough, because the first one is the big one, so you're going to put everything on the pay-per-view event," he says. "And then you have Fight Nights. I don't know what's going to be left by that time, but I definitely have to take care of myself, just to make sure everything goes well."

You can hear the excitement in what's become a distinctive and trusted voice to an Arabic audience since Al Hosani first grabbed the mic in 2010. The Abu Dhabi resident, who cut his teeth as a jiu-jitsu commentator, shared his UFC debut with the Middle East, calling the promotion's first event in the region with UFC 112 in the capital.

He's now a regular fixture on AD Sports, describing the action to UFC fans from most of the events broadcast here since 2014. Last September, Al Hosani enjoyed what he considers the Middle East's most significant MMA show to date: UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, headlined by Khabib Nurmagomedov against Dustin Poirier.

Fight Island, though? Trumps it.

“This is the biggest announcement ever for MMA in the region,” Al Hosani says. “For me, it’s even bigger than Khabib-Dustin UFC 242, just because it comes at a difficult time, when nobody expected it.

“They’ve three titles fights, and I’m hearing there could be another on one of the 'Fight Nights'. You’re talking about four title fights in one month, in one city, and a lot of big names coming besides the ones announced on UFC 251. It's huge.”

Taking place during a pandemic, it feels even bigger.

"All eyes are going to be on Abu Dhabi again," Al Hosani says. "And I think there’s a bigger picture than the events themselves. Even here, it’s giving people hope, positivity and optimism that, even with the worse scenario we’re living in today, things can come out the other side.

“It is kind of a comeback story for Abu Dhabi and the UAE as well, by hosting an event of this magnitude. This is how I look at it: it’s more than just UFC Fight Island.

“It’s a big message, because it says if Abu Dhabi can successfully host this big festival, if you want to call it that, during a pandemic, what can they do when there isn’t one?

“It’s another message that the city can push through, and that’s the main point for me as an Emirati, that’s more important to me than the fights.

“Obviously I love the fights, but to me I love the giving people hope that things can be done and things can be normal - or as normal as it can be during this time."

Abu Dhabi's connection to the UFC was fortified last year, with a five-year agreement put in place between the two entities. UFC 242 was the first of what was supposed to be annual world-title events in the capital, with another planned for this October. Fight Island, organisers have said, is simply an expansion of that arrangement.

Al Hosani is convinced it strengthens it.

“Look at how the previous relationship was, which was strictly the stakeholder-type relationship,” he says. “Now it’s evolved more into a partnership.

“I don’t think it was a selection process when it came to the UFC choosing an international base for their fights in this area. I really believe the first place they thought was Abu Dhabi because of the experience they have throughout the years and some of the personalities involved, with the leadership here.

“So I’m not surprised. Every time the UFC come here, Abu Dhabi has rolled out the red carpet for them, and this is definitely the most it’s ever been rolled out for them. To close off an island, even if it’s a portion of the island, for an event like this, having all the facilities being private for them, I don’t think any country would have done that for the UFC at this moment.”

Now it's just getting on the island. Al Hosani doesn't know at present if he'll be commentating on site or via a studio, but there's no question where he'd rather be.

“Anyone involved in the fight game shouldn’t be missing this, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he says. “This might never be done again. If the pandemic is over, why would the UFC do a Fight Island and close it up again?

“Whereas right now it’s only a select group of people there. Fighters want to fight on this card because they know the significance of it. Journalists want to be there, because they know they're part of history.

"I don’t now if they’re going to keep doing this series in different islands all around the world after this, but everyone will remember that Fight Island - the first Fight Island - in talk or on memorabilia or on a T-shirt, was actually Yas Island.

“I just hope there’s an island theme. Give it an identity. It’s a special set of cards in a special place, so why not?”