Almost two months since its last event, the UFC is ready to bounce back with a bang.
The world's leading mixed martial arts promotion are set to run the first of three events in the space of just eight days in Jacksonville, Florida.
UFC 249 had originally been scheduled to take place on April 18 in Brooklyn, New York, but the coronavirus outbreak forced that venue off the schedule.
The UFC then looked to run the event on the same date on tribal land in Lemoore, California to circumvent the government shutdown in the state, but pressure from senior execs from broadcast partners ESPN – and the sports channel's parent company Disney – promoted an 11th-hour rethink.
Now the pay-per-view event is set to take place behind closed doors in Jacksonville under full state regulation.
Fighters, coaches and staffers will undergo Covid-19 tests and a host of additional safety measures will be in place for the show, which represents the first major sporting event to take place in the United States since the coronavirus outbreak.
Expect fireworks
The event itself boasts a fight card jam-packed with fighting talent, with two title fights featured at the top of the card.
The main event, a battle for the vacant UFC interim lightweight title, will see former interim champ Tony Ferguson and former World Series of Fighting champ Justin Gaethje go head-to-head in a fight between two of the most entertaining fighters on the entire roster.
Ferguson was originally set to face undisputed champion Khabib Nurmagomedov on the original April 18 show in Brooklyn, but the advent of the coronavirus put paid to that booking, and extended the apparent jinx surrounding their matchup.
The pair have been booked to fight five times, and five times the fight has fallen through.
With Nurmagomedov currently stuck in Dagestan due to travel restrictions in Russia, the UFC turned to Gaethje to step in and face Ferguson, with the promotion introducing an interim title into the bargain.
Now Ferguson, owner of the longest win streak in the UFC's lightweight division (12 fights), will take on Gaethje, who is renowned as one of the most destructive, exciting fighters in any weight class.
It's a match-up that is absolutely tailor made for an event such as this, as the UFC looks to make an impact on its first show back on TV following the global pandemic struck.
Ready to inspire
The two main event stars say they're inspired by the opportunity to step into the octagon and switch the world back on to live sports once again.
"This is awesome," Ferguson told reporters during a pre-fight conference call.
"I mean, you can hear it in both of our voices, dude. You know, when there are wars going on and everything else there was no sports – they only had the Olympics going on.
"Right now there is no Olympics. There is no Wimbledon ... there is no tennis, there is no soccer, hockey, there is no baseball. This what we bring to the table and we are going out there and do our best and we are going to keep sports alive."
"Yes, this is going to bring a sense of normalcy to people. And you know I'm proud to be a part of it," agreed Gaethje.
"You know, the opportunity to inspire. People need to be inspired right now. They need to not let themselves become depressed, emotional because they can't control what is going on right now.
"We have got to ride it through and they need to be inspired in a way and we can do that. We have the opportunity."
Gaethje also revealed he hoped to pick up another victory on fight night – by getting some essential repairs covered by the UFC.
“I need my nose broken,” he said. "I haven’t been able to breathe through my nose for like 12 years since wrestling. So hopefully one of those elbows cracks my nose – the UFC has to pay for that!"
Gold versus GOAT
The co-main event also features a title fight, as Olympic gold medalist former UFC flyweight champion and reigning, defending UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo puts his title on the line against arguably the greatest bantamweight fighter in UFC history, two-time former champion Dominick Cruz.
Cruz has battled a series of crippling injuries that have cost him years of his fighting prime, but his ability to bounce back from lengthy layoffs and return to the top was proven when he won the bantamweight title for the second time in 2016.
Now, after the longest layoff of his career – almost three and a half years – Cruz returns to take on one of the sport's best pound-for-pound athletes.
Reigning champion Cejudo captured Olympic wrestling gold for the United States in 2008 in Beijing, and transitioned to mixed martial arts five years later.
Cejudo went on to eventually dethrone the great Demetrious Johnson and capture the UFC flyweight title, then moved up and claimed the bantamweight belt with a superb come-from-behind win over Marlon Moraes last year.
Now focusing on life at 135 pounds after relinquishing the flyweight belt, Cejudo wants to cement his legacy by defeating the man considered by many to be the greatest bantamweight of all time.
UFC 249 is available for fans in the UAE to watch via the UFC Arabia app. The main card kicks off at 6am, Sunday May 10.
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
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Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
Schedule
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
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UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: Dh898,000
On sale: now
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
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
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