Moroccan Ottman Azaitar is set to compete on the upcoming Fight Island series in Abu Dhabi, following another spectacular victory at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Sunday morning.
The unbeaten lightweight, 30, took only 93 seconds to defeat American Khama Worthy by TKO in the co-main event at the Apex, finishing his opponent with a flurry of punches.
It took Azaitar to two wins from two in the UFC – he triumphed on debut at last year's UFC 242, also in Abu Dhabi – while his overall professional record now stands at 13-0.
Twelve of those successes have come via finishes, including nine knockouts. Worthy, meanwhile, had won his past seven fights.
Asked post-event about Azaitar turning around almost immediately to compete on Fight Island, which is scheduled in Abu Dhabi for September 27-October 24, UFC president Dana White said: "He is."
On whether his next opponent was already confirmed, White said: “No. We’re good, but we’re not that good.”
A former Brave lightweight champion, Azaitar had to wait more than a year between his two UFC bouts. In September last year, he knocked out Finn Teemu Packalen in the first round to receive Performance of the Night. Azaitar picked up the same bonus on Sunday for the display against Worthy.
“I would say I appreciated this fight more because the UFC gave us the opportunity to be the co-main event and they put such a big trust in us,” Azaitar said. “I won’t say I wanted from the beginning a knockout, but at least to give people what they want to see: fights, smashes, blood… we have to be exciting for the people.
“You can make any fight much safer if you just score points, take care and don’t take risks, but we have to take risks. If you don’t take risks, you might win the fight, but you don’t win people’s hearts. That’s what makes a difference.”
On when he will return to the octagon, Azaitar said: “I’m ready anytime. I didn’t get injured in this fight. I said this also before this fight. If everything goes well and I’m not injured, then it’s a matter of my brother and manager to decide it. He tells me what’s going on next and we make it. I’m open to everything.”
In an interview with The National last week, Azaitar was asked about competing on Fight Island should he get past Worthy, and responded: "I make always step-by-step. I finish this step, and everything goes good, no injuries, and yes I'm open for any next opportunity of chance to get back into cage. Wherever it is."
While not yet confirmed by local organsiers, Fight Island is slated to open on September 27 with UFC 253 and conclude with UFC 254 on October 24. There will be five events in all.
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Photos from Ottman Azaitar's win at UFC 242
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
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In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
Tips for used car buyers
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Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
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Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Rawat Al Reef, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Noof KB, Richard Mullen, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: UAE Arabian Derby – Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Dergham Athbah, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Daggash
7.30pm: Emirates Championship – Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Irish Freedom, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
