Having gone undefeated in 17 mixed martial arts appearances, including the last five fights in the UFC, Umar Nurmagomedov exudes confidence as he prepares for his next challenge.
The Dagestani will take on No 2-ranked Cory Sandhagen on the main card of UFC Fight Night at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on August 3.
The stakes are high for both with the winner of this contest likely to earn a shot at the UFC bantamweight title.
“I have been waiting for this moment my whole life and I’m ready to take on anyone in any challenge. I want to win this fight and win the belt,” Nurmagomedov told The National in a Zoom interview.
“A win here will take me closer as the No 1 contender for the bantamweight title.”
To achieve that, Nurmagomedov must defeat an opponent who has seven knockouts in his 17 victories in MMA and rides a three-fight win streak.
“I think in my division there are a lot of tough guys and he [Sandhagen] is one of them,” Nurmagomedov said of his American opponent.
“For me, I think it’s going to be the same as how I fight always. I will try to take him down, choke him, but I don't care. Even if I can strike him, doesn't matter. I will take him on as I have always done – as another opponent.”
Nurmagomedov, 28, has two knockouts and seven submissions in his 17-fight undefeated record. He says training has gone well, though he admits to holding a little back as to be at optimal level come August 3.
“I haven’t pushed myself a lot because when you're training, like on maximum, sometimes you can break. There is enough time and I’ll reach peak when I get into the octagon,” he said.
“I’m always training and it doesn't matter whether I face Cory or someone else, but I’m training all year. You never know, injuries may happen and I may have to take on a different opponent. So, I’m always prepared to take on anyone.”
Nurmagomedov trains at the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School (named after his more illustrious cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov’s late father) in Makhachkala and is now in Dubai to continue his preparation.
“Sheikh Hamdan [bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai] has provided all the training facilities in Dubai for me to continue with my preparation. I’m really thankful for the support Dubai has provided,” he said.
Nurmagomedov knows what it is like to have his hand raised in victory in Abu Dhabi having secured a TKO win over Sergey Morozov in January 2021.
He will be cornered by cousin Khabib and can expect a huge fan following inside the Etihad Arena when he takes on Sandhagen.
“It means I'm fighting with my people,” he said. “It's an honour for me to fight there and everyone will be there. My father, my uncles, brothers, friends and of course the support from the local fans. It surely would motivate me to put up a show.
“Khabib will be there too. He will be cornering. I think everything, what I have and where I am now, it's because of what he did. He became UFC champion and he showed us what we can do. We just follow him.”
Khabib has played a massive role in Umar's ascent in the UFC, along with his cousins Usman and Abubakar.
“I grappled a lot with Khabib, and before when he was preparing for his fights I was sparring with him too,” Nurmagomedov added.
“I now spar and grapple with him as part of my preparation. He continues to teach and guide me as we prepare for Cory. My cousins also join me and they are a big support for me.”
RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
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Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Price: From Dh117,059
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Honeymoonish
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
