Usman Nurmagomedov dedicated his latest commanding victory to his father after extending his perfect record to 20-0 following a unanimous decision win over Paul Hughes in the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch at the Coca-Cola Arena on Friday.
The Dagestani, returning to the cage eight months after their first meeting, looked in remarkable physical shape as he dominated the lightweight title rematch.
He also had a partisan crowd backing him at a packed arena along with his father, Abubaker, family members including the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov and coach Javier Mendez in his corner.
“Amazing feeling. I feel how you support me, how you support our team. I won this belt in front of my father. I'm so happy, and I dedicate this fight to him,” Usman said after receiving the belt.
“I felt I was winning every round, but it was a very tough fight with a very tough opponent. I wasn’t underestimating him this time, I think he underestimated me.
“Maybe he made a mistake, but anyway, happy to see you again, and thank you so much for the fight, Paul, big respect for you and your team. We gave the Middle East, and Dubai in particular, a very big night, and I'm so happy for that.”
Khabib, too, paid tribute to Hughes, 28, and his team for the fights he put up against Usman, 27.
“First of all, I want to say thank you, because this guy (Hughes) pushed him last January,” Khabib said.
“Tonight, it was also not an easy fight but we showed the improvements. These two fighters have age on their side to continue to improve in the next five, six years. They have got a lot going for them.”
Usman revealed his preparation was overseen by coach Mendez and not Khabib.
“The truth is it was Javier Mendez,” he responded. “I worked with him and it was hard. Of course, I also have all my team including Khabib, Usman, Islam as always. But yes, it was with Javier I prepared.”
The fight was not as close as the first meeting. Usman was marginally ahead in the blows exchanged and also tried several take downs, but Hughes was able to slip out every time.
The Dagestani almost had Hughes in a rear naked choke attempt in the first of those takedowns in round one, but the Northern Irelander did well to escape.
“He gave me this fight. I know he's strong. I know he will come strong. I know everything. I knew it was going to be hard to finish him but I tried,” Usman said.
What’s next?
“To make it 21 (wins),” Usman added.
While Hughes will have now to work his way back to a title contest, PFL 2025 lightweight tournament winner Alfie Davis has emerged as a front-runner for a possible match against Usman.
“Alfie Davis, anytime, anywhere, I'm waiting for you,” the champion said when asked of a potential showdown against the Englishman.
Hughes was gracious in defeat, having ended the five-round contest with a nearly closed left eye. He didn’t get a post-fight interview, but thanked his fans and promised he will be back.
In the co-main event, Corey Anderson won the PFL light heavyweight belt with a unanimous decision over Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.
Anderson received a few heavy blows in round 1 but held on to end the Albanian’s seven-fight winning run.
Anderson’s boxing skills and takedown attempts saw his opponent run out of gas at the end.
Earlier in the card, Dubai-based Iranian Pouya Rahmani provided a quick finish by knocking down Slim Trebelsi in a heavyweight contest.
A popular figure among Dubai fans, Rahmani threw a power-packed right to send Treblesi to the canvas, followed by a flurry of punches before the referee stopped the contest after two minutes 47 seconds in the first round.
Rahmani was meeting the Tunisian after winning a grappling contest against him in May.
“He's a good wrestler, he went to the Olympics. I'm a wrestler too, but I had grappled him on the ground, so I didn't care if he goes for a takedown,” he said.
“Tonight, I wanted to stand and fight to show people who doubted me just as a grappler. I have showed them I can finish people with my hands. That was the plan.
“I can't wait to fight again. I heard after four months again they're gonna come to Dubai, so I'm waiting for anyone they give me.”
Results
Middleweight showcase: Jarrah Al Silawi defeated Gregory Babene (split decision)
Lightweight showcase: Makkasharip Zaynukov def John Mitchell (unanimous decision)
Lightweight showcase: Takeshi Izumi def Vinicius Censi (unanimous decision)
Lightweight showcase: Mirafzal Akhtamov def Luann Sardinha (split decision)
Welterweight showcase: Florim Zendali def Omar El Dafrawi (unanimous decision)
Heavyweight showcase: Pouya Rahmani def Slim Trabelsi (TKO 2:47, round 1)
Contract Weight showcase: Jack Cartwright def Caolan Loughran (unanimous decision)
Bantamweight showcase: Archie Colgan def Jay-Jay Wilson (unanimous decision)
Bantamweight #1 Contender: Sergio Pettis def Magomed Magomedov (knockout in 4:31, round 2)
Light heavyweight title: Corey Anderson def Dovlet Yagshimuradov (unanimous decision)
Lightweight title: Usman Nurmagomedov def Paul Hughes (unanimous decision)
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
Results:
CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
1. Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds
2. Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42
4. Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Ferrari
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UAE and Russia in numbers
UAE-Russia ties stretch back 48 years
Trade between the UAE and Russia reached Dh12.5 bn in 2018
More than 3,000 Russian companies are registered in the UAE
Around 40,000 Russians live in the UAE
The number of Russian tourists travelling to the UAE will increase to 12 percent to reach 1.6 million in 2023
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Race card
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m
7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m
8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m
9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: Dh898,000
On sale: now
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)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
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.”
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Austrian Grand Prix race timings
Weekend schedule for Austrian Grand Prix - all timings UAE
Friday
Noon-1.30pm First practice
4-5.30pm Second practice
Saturday
1-2pm Final practice
4pm Qualifying
Sunday
4pm Austrian Grand Prix (71 laps)
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
