Into the fourth week of his Dubai camp, and not long now until that eagerly-awaited return in Abu Dhabi, and coach Javier Mendez is pleased with what he sees in Khabib Nurmagomedov.
His star pupil is relaxed but revelling in his work, focus firmly on Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, a unification bout that marks the lightweight champion’s first competitive appearance in 13 months.
The headline confrontation of another headline Fight Island series in the capital, Nurmagomedov has been preparing for his latest challenge under Mendez’s tutelage at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex, a facility that he has grown well accustomed to.
Not just accustomed to, but extremely comfortable in.
"Things are going great, we're almost ready to go," Mendez tells The National, between another day of morning and afternoon sessions. "The game face is still some time away right now.
“It's just getting geared up to doing five hard, good rounds and staying healthy, staying strong, and making sure weight's on point. Right now, that's what we're focusing on, and working on the game-plan execution and making sure he's healthy.
“Shape-wise, Khabib’s where he's always been. It's just like clockwork. We're right on point on this fight, like we were last time.”
Last time feels some time ago. The pandemic has prevented Nurmagomedov, 32 last month, from defending his lightweight crown since he submitted then-interim champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in September last year. It was another pressurised unification bout, another clash that played out in Abu Dhabi.
The emirate and neighbouring Dubai have featured squarely in the Nurmagomedov story these past few years. The Dagestan native, whose professional record reads 28-0, has become a frequent visitor to the UAE, meeting and interacting with the royal family and growing close to a number of people in the Emirates.
“It’s like family here,” Mendez says. “It’s why Khabib’s so comfortable here. The hospitality of how they take care of him, in Abu Dhabi and here, is second to none. And it’s like a second home to me.”
The facilities at the NAS Complex help, too.
“It's the greatest place to have a training camp, especially if you have all your people with you,” Mendez says. “They provide everything for you; to me, that Dubai gym is the best gym I've ever seen in the whole entire world. I don't think there's any better.
“NAS is the greatest facility in the world, and we’re given the greatest treatment. So many people have done a great job for us. So many.”
______________________
Khabib at UFC 242
___________________
Chief among those are Emirati Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi – “he's the one that took care of us with everything. He’s become a really great friend, I love that guy” – and Umidjon Mavlyanov, the well-connected Uzbek known affectionately as “Omar”. Mendez has plans to put together a documentary with Mavlyanov to showcase Dubai.
Downtime has been spent either resting or taking in the sights, be it on bicycle, horseback or a six-hour boat ride around the Dubai coast. It all lends itself to Nurmagomedov feeling refreshed and reenergised, which, Mendez says, serves him well in the lead-up to UFC 254 on October 24. For the American Kickboxing Academy founder, who began working with Nurmagomedov in 2012, a content Khabib makes for a hugely constructive camp.
“Khabib's had his best fights when he's laughing and goofing around in the back and being relaxed,” Mendez says. “One time I was so concerned with him, I said, 'Khabib, get serious'. He goes, 'Coach, I am serious', and he goes out there and destroys.
“And so now it's like every time that I see him smiling and having a good time, man, it's performance time. When I see him stressed, it could be bad because he's too worried. But him being happy is great.”
Nurmagomedov first held camp in Dubai ahead of UFC 242, but the current will extend longer, this time to around five-and-a-bit weeks. Mendez views it as offering a slight advantage on Gaethje, the American still training Stateside before he heads to Abu Dhabi later this month. Nurmagomedov has no jetlag to overcome, no period of acclimatisation during fight week required.
Having his sizeable team with him – some of whom have and are still to compete on Fight Island – represents another obvious benefit.
“It's extremely important to have them here because they're some of the best fighters in the world,” Mendez says. “So Khabib’s getting some of the best sparring partners in the world and guys are here to improve themselves and to help him improve himself.
“These guys really are like brothers, and they're here to help each other. In the cage, though, they try to beat the hell out of each other, but that's what it's about, right? They're not playing. They're trying to hurt each other.
“But when it comes outside of that, it's all about respect and loyalty. And every one of them has that respect and loyalty towards Khabib.”
Undoubtedly, Nurmagomedov and his team respect the threat posed by Gaethje (22-2, 5-2 UFC). The dominant display against Tony Ferguson to claim the interim belt at UFC 249 in May underlined his skillset, "The Highlight" producing another performance for the reel to set up the Abu Dhabi tussle with Nurmagomedov.
“Justin Gaethje is an extremely tough opponent,” Mendez says. “He's dangerous, and so dangerous with the low kick. He's one of the best low-kickers I've probably ever seen in the lightweight division, probably out of all the UFC.
“He's got power in both hands, great cardio, Division-1 wrestling skills. He rarely goes to the ground because he's so good. And if he does go to the ground, he gets up right away. And he likes to brawl.
“He's not a precision striker, like a Conor [McGregor], who was very precision-based. I found Conor to be the most dangerous we've ever faced because the skillset Conor had is unbelievable, but Gaethje might prove me wrong. He might just go ahead and surpass that.
“I have to prepare Khabib as if Justin is the toughest, because if I don't, then I'm not doing my job. So we are preparing for the toughest competition ever. It's not going to be an easy fight, or it could be. Either way, we're prepared for a battle.”
So, too, it seems, is Gaethje, who last week labelled the bout the biggest of his life. Clearly motivation isn't lacking, on either side of the octagon.
“I think it does make him more dangerous because he realises what's at stake, definitely,” Mendez says. “For sure, he wants it, and this is a kid that wants to entertain. He wants to entertain more than he wants to win. That's my feeling from everything I saw of him."
Yet Mendez believes Nurmagomedov has more for everyone to see, even as an incredibly dominant fighter already, even at 28-0 (12-0 UFC), even as the No 2-ranked pound-for-pound athlete in the sport – behind only Jon Jones – and as someone many believe with victory will creep ever closer to greatest-of-all-time status.
“He's better,” Mendez says. “Believe me, he's better. I always tell people, ‘Go ahead and watch the video of his last fight, because the guy you're getting, it's not that guy’.
“Watch his videos. There are certain things that are the same, but there's always improvements to his game. There's things people don't see, and you could see some more improvements on this guy. He's improved. He improves all the time.”
UFC 254 marks Nurmagomedov’s first competitive appearance since the death of his father, Abdulmanap, earlier this summer from heart complications having contracted Covid-19. Not only a parent, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov was a lifelong coach to his son also, a significant and sturdy influence both personally and professionally.
“I hope that it impacts him in the positive way, and he goes out there, and he follows father's plan,” says Mendez, who considered Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov family as well. “I hope it works that way instead of the opposite where he doesn't follow what his father wished of him to fight and how he should be fighting.
“I've always pushed father's plan. I call it ‘father's plan’ because his training is from his father. I don't say ‘Javier's plan’ because mine is the stand-up game. The father's plan is the ground game and controlling the ground and top dominance and everything. And that's what Khabib does best of anybody in the world.”
Patently, Nurmagomedov is intent on reinforcing that reputation on October 24. It’s evident there, throughout his Dubai camp.
“He’s zoned in, fired and ready, and he's prepared to live on with his father's legacy,” Mendez says. “And if anybody is going to help propel him, it's not me: it's his father and his father's will for him to continue the legacy. So, yes, he's ready.”
More on Quran memorisation:
Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier
ICC Academy, November 22-28
UAE fixtures
Nov 22, v Malaysia
Nov 23, v Hong Kong
Nov 25, v Bhutan
Nov 26, v Kuwait
Nov 28, v Nepal
ICC T20I rankings
14. Nepal
17. UAE
25. Hong Kong
34. Kuwait
35. Malaysia
44. Bhutan
UAE squad
Chaya Mughal (captain), Natasha Cherriath, Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Mahika Gaur, Priyanjali Jain, Suraksha Kotte, Vaishnave Mahesh, Judit Peter, Esha Rohit, Theertha Satish, Chamani Seneviratne, Khushi Sharma, Subha Venkataraman
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule
12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)
2pm Formula One final practice
5pm Formula One qualifying
6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
World Test Championship table
1 India 71 per cent
2 New Zealand 70 per cent
3 Australia 69.2 per cent
4 England 64.1 per cent
5 Pakistan 43.3 per cent
6 West Indies 33.3 per cent
7 South Africa 30 per cent
8 Sri Lanka 16.7 per cent
9 Bangladesh 0
MATCH INFO
First Test at Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs
Second Test at Antigua
West Indies won by 10 wickets
Third Test at St Lucia
February 9-13
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
More on animal trafficking
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 0
Wolves 2 (Traore 80', 90 4')
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
Company profile
Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018
Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: Health-tech
Size: 22 employees
Funding: Seed funding
Investors: Flat6labs, 500 Falcons, three angel investors
The five pillars of Islam
The years Ramadan fell in May
Super heroes
Iron Man
Reduced risk of dementia
Alcohol consumption could be an issue
Hulk
Cardiac disease, stroke and dementia from high heart rate
Spider-Man
Agility reduces risk of falls
Increased risk of obesity and mental health issues
Black Panther
Vegetarian diet reduces obesity
Unknown risks of potion drinking
Black Widow
Childhood traumas increase risk of mental illnesses
Thor
He's a god
More on Quran memorisation:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Day 2, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dinesh Chandimal has inherited a challenging job, after being made Sri Lanka’s Test captain. He responded in perfect fashion, with an easy-natured century against Pakistan. He brought up three figures with a majestic cover drive, which he just stood and admired.
Stat of the day – 33 It took 33 balls for Dilruwan Perera to get off the mark. His time on zero was eventful enough. The Sri Lankan No 7 was given out LBW twice, but managed to have both decisions overturned on review. The TV replays showed both times that he had inside edged the ball onto his pad.
The verdict In the two previous times these two sides have met in Abu Dhabi, the Tests have been drawn. The docile nature of proceedings so far makes that the likely outcome again this time, but both sides will be harbouring thoughts that they can force their way into a winning position.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eamana%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Farra%20and%20Ziad%20Aboujeb%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERegulator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDFSA%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinancial%20services%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E85%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESelf-funded%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
%3Cp%3E%0DDeveloper%3A%20Ubisoft%20Bordeaux%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Ubisoft%0D%3Cbr%3EConsoles%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20Series%20S%26amp%3BX%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The years Ramadan fell in May
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
