Last Thursday, the UFC announced their return to Abu Dhabi later this year, with UFC 294 on October 21. While no bouts have been confirmed, we look at three clashes we’d like to see on the card come fight night at Etihad Arena.
Islam Makhachev v Alexander Volkanovski
Lightweight champion Makhachev called out Leon Edwards immediately after his welterweight counterpart’s successful title defence against Kamaru Usman on Sunday morning. “I want Leon next” Makhachev tweeted. “October in Abu Dhabi.” Clearly, the 155lb champion is targeting double-champ status. Yet UFC president Dana White promptly dismissed the idea, saying Makhachev won’t be taking on Edwards in the capital.
The Dagestan native, who captured the lightweight belt in Abu Dhabi last October, seems a strong shout no matter what to headline UFC 294 given his affinity to the UAE. If so, then who better than to face than Volkanovski? The pair served up a Fight of the Year contender only last month, when Makhachev prevailed on points to register his first title defence and stretch his incredible win streak to 12.
Meanwhile, Volkanovski, the featherweight champion who stepped up to chase a belt in a second division, suffered his first defeat in 23 pro bouts – but what an effort. The Australian, one of the stars at the inaugural Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, is expected to defend his featherweight crown this summer against interim champion Yair Rodriguez, while Makhachev might compete around then too once he resumes training after Ramadan.
Even if the latter sits out until October, a rematch with Volkanovski more than whets the appetite. A “super-fight” to top the bill at Etihad Arena? Yes, please.
Leon Edwards v Belal Muhammad
Following the trilogy win against Usman on Sunday, Edwards said he was willing to take on whoever next – bar Colby Covington. The American was present at UFC 286 having travelled to London to make weight as a back-up for the headline event, with White confirming he is indeed next for a welterweight title shot. Edwards, though, asked why Covington deserves it given he has been largely absent since defeating Jorge Masvidal 12 months ago. What is more, Covington twice took on Usman during the Nigerian’s title reign and lost both times – although the first was an epic encounter.
Muhammad, meanwhile, deserves a tilt at the gold more than anyone. The American is unbeaten in his past nine bouts (eight wins and one no contest – against Edwards, in 2021), and last time out inflicted Sean Brady’s first pro loss, at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi. Also, Muhammad previously told The National of his dream to win the belt in the capital. Some have called for Muhammad to first face Covington in a shootout for the chance to go up against Edwards. If the timeline works, then the UFC could do that and guarantee the winner meets the champion at Etihad Arena in October.
However, no one could really begrudge Muhammad, the No 4-ranked contender at welterweight, getting a straight shot at Edwards.
Khamzat Chimaev v Robert Whittaker
On Sunday, White confirmed Chimaev’s much-awaited return to action would fall in October. The UFC chief did not say quite where, but Chimaev is an obvious draw for Abu Dhabi having competed there in four of his seven appearances in the promotion. The Chechen-born athlete, whose explosive arrival in the UFC took place during Fight Island 1, is moving up from welterweight to middleweight, where he is thought to be one major win away from a title shot.
Former champion Whittaker or former title challenger Marvin Vettori have been mooted as possible opponents. Whittaker, though, would certainly pave the path to gold. The Australian sits currently as the No 2-ranked challenger at middleweight (Vettori is No 4), whose only two defeats in his past 15 fights came at the hands of Israel Adesanya.
Next month, Adesanya attempts to win back the belt from Alex Pereira in their rematch at UFC 287. Should he do it, then the calls for Whittaker to first face Chimaev will only grow. Whittaker, however, has not competed since September, when he defeated Vettori on points, while last month’s reported bout with Paulo Costa never came to fruition.
So, would Whittaker wait until October to get back into the octagon? At 12-0, Chimaev should be provided a formidable challenge next. Whittaker, who has also previously fought in Abu Dhabi, certainly fits the bill.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
Palestine and Israel - live updates
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km
Price: from Dh362,500
On sale: now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Gurm, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Al Nafece, Al Muatasm Al Balushi, Mohammed Ramadan
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adrie de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Ottoman, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Liwa Oasis – Group 2 (PA) 300,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeemat Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ganbaru, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Honeymoonish
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Age: 19
Profession: medical student at UAE university
Favourite book: The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman
Role model: Parents, followed by Fazza (Shiekh Hamdan bin Mohammed)
Favourite poet: Edger Allen Poe
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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BANGLADESH SQUAD
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahaman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
