Tagir Ulanbekov marked his promotional debut with a victory at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi on Sunday – then dedicated the win to Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the late father of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The Russian, who moved to 11-1 in MMA, defeated Brazil’s Bruno Silva by unanimous decision in the flyweight bout at Flash Forum.
A teammate of undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, and one of the many fighters trained by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Ulanbekov paid tribute to his former coach immediately after the triumph. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov died in July from heart complications.
Khabib Nurmagomedov headlines UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi on October 24, the fifth and final event on the second Fight Island series. Upon Ulanbekov's victory, the Dagestan native took to social media, posting in Russia: "Father would be proud."
Speaking afterwards, Ulanbekov said: “I want to dedicate this victory to our coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov – rest in peace. This fight was a big responsibility for me, I had to motivate my teammates Khabib and Islam [Makhachev] – they are fighting on upcoming cards.
“I didn’t fight the way I wanted. Everybody says the first fight in UFC, you get too much pressure and everything, and I guess it’s true. I felt it as well.
“I wanted to keep the fight standing and I thought I would go through him much easier. I didn’t expect the fight to be this hard; it was one of my hardest fights to date.
“This was a long training camp; I was supposed to fight before but I didn’t, unfortunately. I didn’t fight because Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov died. So it was just pretty much a six-month, non-stop training camp, so now I want to rest.”
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UFC Fight Night 5 - in pictures
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
Sleep Well Beast
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Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
