Lightweight contender Dan Hooker says he is relishing the opportunity to “spoil the party” in Abu Dhabi by defeating Islam Makhachev at UFC 267 on Saturday.
The New Zealander, the division's No 6-ranked challenger, goes up against the highly touted Dagestan native in the third final bout at Etihad Arena, knowing his No 5-ranked opponent will enjoy the majority of support from outside the octagon. Makhachev, who rides an eight-fight win streak, is a firm fan’s favourite in the capital and throughout the region.
However, Hooker said playing the underdog does not concern him at all.
“It’s equally as exciting to me, whether it’s main-eventing a show in your hometown, or going out there and everyone is against you,” he told reporters during the pre-event media day at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island. "Everything is energy, whether it is 10,000 or 20,000 people screaming for you in support, or if it is 10,000 or 20,000 people wanting your blood. Both of those get me just as excited.
“I relish this opportunity like nothing else. That’s the way I am approaching this fight - that I am coming over here to foreign shore, away from home, and I am coming to spoil the party."
Open workouts at Yas Island
Hooker accepted the fight only last month, when he became a late replacement for former champion Rafael Dos Anjos, who withdrew through injury. At 21-10 in professional mixed martial arts, he agreed to step in only days following his convincing victory against Nasrat Haqparast in Las Vegas – visa issues meant both he and his opponent arrived only days before the bout - and had to remain in the US, away from his family, given the entry restrictions currently in place in New Zealand.
On whether he ever questioned taking the Makhachev bout, Hooker said: “There were never any regrets. Other than getting your [butt] kicked for a couple weeks in the wrestling room… was good, I was enjoying it the whole time. It’s just my mentality the whole camp. What bends doesn’t break.
“Championship mentality. A champion can adjust whether it’s in a fight, whether it’s in training. So that’s what I did. No matter what these challenges are I have a championship mentality and I’ve evolved past it. And I’ve made it work.
“I did it with the last fight and I’ve done it with this fight. I have absolutely no excuse. I am 100 per cent confident in my preparations for this fight and I’m excited to go out there and put on a show.”
The encounter with Makhachev, 20-1 as a pro and tipped by many as a future lightweight champion, is viewed as a match-up between Hooker’s supreme striking and his rival’s expert wrestling.
Asked about Makhachev’s stand-up, Hooker deadpanned: “He’s standing up. That’s why they say a broken clock is right twice a day. He’s got a couple of knockouts. He’s hurt some people. He can strike. Obviously, it’s purely to set up his takedowns.”
I have absolutely no excuse. I am 100 per cent confident in my preparations for this fight
Dan Hooker
Such was Makhachev's reputation, that for some time he struggled to get fights. Stock solidified by two submission victories this year, he is considered heavy favourite on Saturday to extend his winning run to nine.
“You can’t control everyone else’s perception of a fight,” Hooker said. “I can’t control the narrative of a fight. It’s just painted the way it’s painted. He’s a mix of both. He’s a very specialist skill set, was doing some pretty incredible things.
“Now the last couple of fights he’s getting the recognition for it, which has obviously caught the attention of the elite-level guys. Now it makes sense to get out there and fight him.”
Hooker, though, would not be drawn on whether Makhachev was deserving of the hype attached to him at present, saying: “I never understood discrediting an opponent’s achievements leading into a fight. Because then when you beat them, you’re just downplaying your own achievements. So I have no intention to nit-pick his past or nit-pick any of his achievements. That’s not even how I approach it mentally.
“I want to fight him because he is a specialist. I want to fight him because there is so much intrigue. I want to fight him because he is considered the best grappler in the division. I want to fight the best people in the world, and he is considered one of the best in the world. I don’t want to fight him because I think he’s an easy target.
“Doesn’t make sense to discredit him. So 100 per cent he has deserved everything he’s achieved. This is his party. I’m just here to spoil it. That’s my whole plan.”
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
SUZUME
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Company%20profile
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All Black 39-12 British & Irish Lions
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
SERIES INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
Table
The top three sides advance to the 2022 World Cup Qualifier.
The bottom four sides are relegated to the 2022 World Cup playoff
1 United States 8 6 2 0 0 12 0.412
2 Scotland 8 4 3 0 1 9 0.139
3 Namibia 7 4 3 0 0 8 0.008
4 Oman 6 4 2 0 0 8 -0.139
5 UAE 7 3 3 0 1 7 -0.004
6 Nepal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 PNG 8 0 8 0 0 0 -0.458
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.
Disposing of non-recycleable masks
Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home
Do not put them in a recycling bin
Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
- No need to bag the mask
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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match details
Wales v Hungary
Cardiff City Stadium, kick-off 11.45pm
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
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