Once more, Abu Dhabi played an integral role in the UFC’s success this year, hosting four fight nights, including two pay-per-view events. Here we look at the top five UFC moments in the capital for 2021.
Dustin Poirier knocks out Conor McGregor
The UFC’s first numbered event of the year featured the long-awaited return of McGregor, still the sport’s main attraction. The former two-division champion’s lightweight clash with Poirier headlined Fight Island’s UFC257 at the newly opened Etihad Arena, a rematch seven years in the making. Poirier stunned the limited – Covid-19 restrictions applied - but vocal crowd in the capital, flooring McGregor in the second round to win via TKO and even their series at 1-1. It represented the Irishman’s first knockout defeat of his professional career.
McGregor, who was making his comeback following more than a year out, fronted up to the media afterwards, saying: “I’ll take my licks. I’m gutted. I put so much work in. Well done Dustin, we’re one and one, good man. We’ll go again.” And that they did, at UFC 264 in Las Vegas in July. This time, Poirier prevailed after McGregor broke his leg when planting it seconds out from the end of the first round. He is now 1-3 in his past four UFC appearances.
Glover Teixeira turns back the clock against Jan Blachowicz
After nine months away, the UFC returned to Abu Dhabi in October with a UFC 267 featuring two title fights and a host of other intriguing bouts. However, the night at Etihad Arena undoubtedly belonged to Teixeira, who upset the odds by submitting light-heavyweight belt-holder Blachowicz in the second round to send the 10,000-plus crowd wild in celebration.
In winning, the Brazilian became the second-oldest first-time champion in UFC history. In fact, he had celebrated his 42nd birthday only days before in the capital. Teixeira had once previously fought for a title, losing out to Jon Jones seven years before. The new champ, hugely popular and with a Hollywood-worthy backstory, declared afterwards in reference to his pro career: “Twenty years baby. I’m breaking the rules, 42 years old. And I’m going to keep breaking the rules.”
Asked about the people who had written him off already, Teixeira replied: “Never give up on your dreams. No matter what people say, don’t listen to those negative people. Believe in yourself, keep going forward.”
Khamzat Chimaev comeback lives up to hype – and more
Even with the two title bouts – Petr Yan took on Cory Sandhagen for the interim bantamweight belt – much of the attention at UFC 267 fell upon Chimaev’s hugely anticipated return. The Chechen-born athlete had blazed a trail through his UFC debut in Abu Dhabi last year, then having raced to 3-0 in the promotion, contracted Covid-19 and spent 13 months away from the octagon. Chimaev was therefore arguably the star of the week leading up to his clash with China’s Li Jingliang at UFC 267, his deadpan one-liners and steely conviction dominating the headlines.
And, on fight night, Chimaev delivered - emphatically. First, he lifted the No 11th-ranked welterweight across the octagon towards Dana White, screaming at the UFC president to pay attention to his prowess. The contest was soon over, Chimaev submitting Li by rear-naked choke. A juggernaut was propelled once more. In four UFC bouts, Chimaev has landed 254 significant strikes, receiving only two in return. Upon victory, he screamed: “Everybody. I come here for everybody. Kill everybody. I’m the champ.”
Michael Chandler announces UFC arrival in style
Talk about making a statement introduction to the UFC. Chandler, a three-time Bellator lightweight champion, made the high-profile switch four months before to the world’s lead mixed martial arts promotion and was handed a dangerous first opponent, in Dan Hooker. The New Zealander had pieced together a three-fight win streak before losing his most recent bout, a Fight of the Year contender, to Poirier.
In the evening’s penultimate contest, Chandler knocked out Hooker with a flurry of punches two and a half minutes into the opening round, then backflipped off the top of the octagon. To round off his evening, he delivered an appropriately flashy promo, calling out soon-to-retire lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor and Poirier. “There's a new king in the lightweight division,” proclaimed Chandler, reeling off those three names. “God bless, see you at the top.” The American had arrived. He would indeed fight for the vacant lightweight crown months later – Nurmagomedov’s retirement had by then been confirmed - losing out to current champion Charles Oliveira.
Max Holloway declares he’s UFC’s best boxer – mid-fight
What a way to celebrate the official opening of Etihad Arena. Holloway’s bout with Calvin Kattar headlined UFC Fight Night, the first of three events across nine days in January in the third Fight Island series. Ranked the No 1 contender in the featherweight division, and keen to lay claim to a third bout with champion Alex Volkanovski, Holloway cruised to a unanimous decision, triumphing 50-43, 50-43, 50-42.
Dominating a talented Kattar throughout, the Hawaiian set various records, including significant strikes landed (445, previous 290) and significant strike attempts (744, previous 515). The high point, though, came late, when Holloway turned away from Kattar to yell to the broadcast team cage-side that he was the best boxer in the UFC – all the while dodging punches from Kattar. “I was having the time of my life, man,” said Holloway afterwards, labelling it the best performance of his 24-fight UFC career. The former champion then turned focus to Volkanovski, saying of the potential trilogy: “You know the saying: to be the best, you've got to beat the best. Bring them all."
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
THREE
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
Results
2.30pm: Expo 2020 Dubai – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Barakka, Ray Dawson (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
3.05pm: Now Or Never – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: One Idea, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
3.40pm: This Is Our Time – Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Perfect Balance, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Visit Expo 2020 – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Kaheall, Richard Mullen, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.50pm: The World In One Place – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1.900m; Winner: Castlebar, Adrie de Vries, Helal Al Alawi
5.25pm: Vision – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
6pm: Al Wasl Plaza – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Jadwal, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
