Khabib, UFC and Fight Island: A Derry man's 'surreal' job on paradise lockdown

Well, that’s exactly where Derry man Declan Meenan found himself lapping up the sun in the luxurious Yas Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, living the dream at the UFC’s ‘Fight Island’ for the past few months.

When much of the sporting world was shut down due to the global pandemic, the Creggan man was sequestered at a base roughly six square miles of the remote island on the Arabian Gulf with around 2,000 people involved in the ambitious UFC production.

The home of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix was transformed into a fight oasis and Declan found himself ringside at the famous UFC octagon perched amid swaying palm trees with waves lapping at the canvas as mixed martial arts stars traded blows in the tropical sun.

He’s been based in the Middle East for the past two years working as a senior advisor for a leading global event safety company, Gallowglass Health & Safety and has carried out work at some of the top sporting events worldwide.

Indeed, he’s been involved with UEFA, The International Olympic Committee and has worked at the Rugby World Cup, Americas Cup, Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup in recent months.

However, as a mixed martial arts fan whose first taste of a live UFC event was in 2015 when he went to Las Vegas to watch Conor McGregor KO Jose Aldo inside 13 seconds for the featherweight title, he jumped at the chance of working on Fight Island.

And he admits it was a ‘surreal’ experience to rub shoulders with the sport’s elite fighters including UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov who defeated Justin Gaethje before hanging up his gloves at UFC 254.

That was an historic moment in the sport and to witness it at close quarters when there were no other fans apart from the production team allowed in the air-conditioned arena, it was a special way to wrap up eight weeks on the island.

Recalling how he got the gig, Declan, who worked at over 100 fights in total during his time on the island, said it was an opportunity of a lifetime.

“I have worked alongside the UFC Fight Island organisers before on numerous projects, most recently the Ethiopian Prime Ministerial visit to the UAE, so once UFC Fight Island 1.0 was announced, they contacted me and asked me would I work on the project for them,” he explained.

“UFC Fight Island 1.0 was a massive success so this then led to UFC Fight Island 2.0. I got the call just a few days before it was announced to pack my bags and prepare myself for eight weeks locked on Yas Island,” he smiled.

“Between the two Fight Islands, the cards have been top class, especially if you are a UFC fan.

“I have been to watch UFC live in Vegas in a packed MGM Grand and this was definitely different with no fans.

However with all the international media being there, there was still a buzz about the place.

“One thing that I noticed was that the lack of atmosphere and noise, meant that you heard every kick or punch that landed.”

And there’s certainly worse places to be during lockdown.

“Yas Island is located on the Dubai side of Abu Dhabi. About a 40 minute drive from where I am located in Dubai. It’s where the F1 track, Ferrari World etc. are located.

“When we were on the island there was a safe zone created where no one could leave or enter the island to ensure that it was Covid free. But staff, fighters etc. had access to a golf course, beach, lots of bars and restaurants and a section of the F1 track for driving and cycling on.”

Despite its name, ‘Fight Island’ was among the safest places in the world as locals went through a 14 day quarantine and everyone inside the safe zone passed several coronavirus tests before being permitted to leave their hotel room.

“When we arrived we all had to do 14 days quarantined in our hotel rooms,” added Declan.

“The only time we could leave the room was to go for our Covid tests which we got every three days.

“Our food was dropped at our room doors and we literally saw no one for 14 days.

“The rules were strict on the island as there was no room for error. Face masks were mandatory, four maximum to a table in the bars and restaurants, endless amounts of hand sanitiser, strict medical procedures for fighters that required hospital treatment, sanitising tunnels, thermal cameras etc.

“But the lead up to the shows involved lots of planning, meetings via teams, validation exercises, emergency response training etc.”

Those strict protocols weren’t foreign to Declan who provided an insight into living in the Middle East during lockdown.

“Living in Dubai I am used to the strict Covid procedures but the testing every three days took a while to get used to.

“At the start of the pandemic it was an actual lockdown here. I hear people describe Derry as being “locked down” but it’s nothing like we had here.

“When the outbreak started I was actually in Thailand at the Celtic Supporters Convention and the Dubai border closed. I had to get a flight back and was held in Dubai airport for 19 hours and was interviewed by immigration before being allowed in

“We weren’t allowed to leave our homes for eight weeks without a police permit and you could only get two of these a week for three hours at a time to go to the shop.

“Once this was lifted we were on a 10pm curfew for a few weeks. The airport closed completely and only recently opened up.

“Masks have been mandatory from day one and we are only allowed three people in a car.

“But this is probably why we are back to some sort of normality here, pubs, beaches, nightclubs etc. are all open again.

“The only thing that I count myself lucky for is the weather, knowing you wake each day to 40 degree heat and the sun makes the lockdown a bit easier.

“The long dark wet nights at home will definitely make the lockdown hard at home for lots of people. But if people do what is asked of them, then they will get through it. It has happened out here.”

Organising high profile events obviously runs in the Meenan family as Declan’s father, Danny, is a familiar face at Derry City Football Club and Ireland games where he works as an FAI Match Delegate and Assistant Chief Steward at Aviva Stadium.

Of course Danny was also the former Head of Matchday Security at the Brandywell and previously worked as Events Co-ordinator and Chair of Safety Advisory Group at Derry City & Strabane District Council.

“My dad and mum came out for a holiday last year and loved it. I have got a new villa so hopefully I get them back out soon to enjoy the heat.

“My dad has also come out to do some work for us at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai when it first opened and enjoyed it, I think.

“We have been working there since it opened and I have been lucky to work alongside top acts such as Maroon 5, Westlife, Tony Robbins, John Legend, Alicia Keys and many more so hopefully I can get him back out to work during one of the live shows.

“My brother Fearghal’s company MK Safety Consultants are supporting us for the Euros too so we will have 12 Derry safety advisors assisting us.”

His sister, Orlaith Meenan also worked at Brandywell as the club’s Commercial Manager for a couple of seasons and he admits the most difficult part of being away being apart from his close-knit family.

Orlaith and her boyfriend, Derry City defender, Darren Cole, recently celebrated the birth of their daughter, Cria, and he was delighted to get back for his niece’s christening.

However, when his grandfather passed away recently he admits he struggled when having to watch his funeral on the chapel’s webcam, unable to get home.

“Yeah of course, I miss my family and my mates. It can be hard sometimes, especially during the first UFC Fight Island, I was in quarantine when I got the phone call that my granda, whom I was very close to, had passed away.

“So I was locked in a hotel room with no family around and unable to get home and had to watch his funeral on a webcam. That was the hardest few weeks I’ve spent out here.

“I was home in August a few days after the first UFC ‘Fight Island’ just to see my family and relax for three weeks. Most of that time was spent in Greencastle with friends and family.

“I got back for Cria’s christening too so I was happy to watch her begin her path on becoming a Celtic fan,” he laughed.

“Not seeing the nephews and niece grow up is hard but I enjoy the family WhatsApp group with all the photos and videos.”

The Celtic Football Club season ticket holder worked on nine separate fight nights over the two Fight Islands, watching over 100 fights.

He’s got to meet some of the top names in the business, including Darren Till and ring announcer, Bruce Buffer, and while he’s not one for pestering for photographs he did manage to get his hands on the winning second round scorecard from Khabib’s final fight to add to his collection of sporting memorabilia.

Having spent so long on the island he’s made lasting friendships, something which made his experience all the more special.

“Everyone there was from all around the world, there was three in total I think that were from Ireland. Myself and a girl on my team and the head of the UFC athlete relations team was also Irish.

“I have definitely made friends for life from the fight islands, everyone got on so well together. They were the best shows that I have worked on and that was mainly because of the people that I was working alongside with.”

Apart from watching his beloved Hoops at Parkhead, Declan ranks the recent UFC experience top of his list so far but he’s hoping to top that in the coming year.

“Fight Island is probably the best sporting event that I have worked at so far, but next year we will be working at the Euros, Champions League final, Europa League Final and Super Cup final, so I’ll have to see if it can be topped.

“But attending as a fan, a Celtic match can’t be beat. There is a group of us from Derry like the McDole brothers, Micky Nar, Darren Pio O’Reilly, Aaron McCallion, ‘Chunky’ and Eddie O’Neill and a few others who have travelled every second week to Glasgow and all over Europe to watch them and they have definitely been some of the best trips I have ever been on.

“Apart from missing family, going to Celtic matches is the biggest thing I miss. I still have my season ticket and can’t wait to get back!”