Muhammad Mokaev’s much-anticipated UFC debut lasted all of 58 seconds.
The highly touted flyweight, granted the opening slot on the UFC’s grand return to London in March, took out Cody Durden in a blink of an eye at The O2 Arena, first dropping his opponent with a flying knee and then locking a guillotine to secure the submission win.
Mokaev, only 21, had backed up the hefty pre-event hype. And then some.
“It felt amazing, to be honest, a perfect match-up, perfect finish for the debut,” Mokaev tells The National now, as he gets set for a second UFC outing, once more in London, this weekend against veteran Charles Johnson.
“I showed I can strike; I can submit guys. I think opponents watched this and say now, ‘He’s not just a wrestler’ - they’re worrying about my striking too.”
A two-time IMMAF world champion at bantamweight, whose 23-0 amateur record and 5-0 pro resume was built primarily on prodigious wrestling, Mokaev had sent a message to the flyweight division. Arguably, to the sport.
He is eager now to build on that electric bow. Mokaev spent some time between his first UFC appearance and the upcoming second at American Top Team (ATT) in the United States, training at the renowned stable with the likes of No-4-ranked flyweight contender Alexandre Pantoja, No 12 Su Mudaerji and hard-hitting bantamweight Pedro Munhoz.
The uptick in talent should be evident this weekend. The confidence, too.
"I have all same skills, but my mind is stronger,” Mokaev says. “Mentally I’ve improved a lot because I’ve sparred the top three guys in my division. I gave them hard rounds; they never seen these rounds before. They know what power I have. So I have every confidence that I can pass Charles Johnston.
“I believe I can finish these guys, to be honest. I’m back to the flyweight division; March was my first fight in four years at flyweight. So I feel very strong and powerful for this division.
“Now I want to show my skills more, maybe first round and then finish it second. Because I want to let the people know it’s not about hype, it’s about skills and the belief that I have.”
Of course, life has changed since his emphatic UFC arrival, with fresh sponsorships banked – Mokaev is represented by Paradigm Sport, the same agency that looks after Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya – and more recognition coming wherever he travels.
To his credit, though, Mokaev is taking it all in stride.
“A lot of people recognise me now,” he says. “A lot of people knew about me, but they were thinking it’s all about hype, he’s just fighting amateurs. But now people are starting to believe.
“But I just follow my goal; I don’t buy into this stuff anymore. My career didn’t go super-explosive straight after my debut – it was growing slowly with each fight. I just try to stay humble, because I know if I lose nobody would care about me. That’s why I stay focus on my career.”
Johnson, then, forms the next step on that steep trajectory.
“I have met already a lot of my opponents in the amateur scene and in the gym in the past, it doesn’t affect me,” Mokaev says. “I can spar with them, I can fight them, but in the fight I’m more dangerous than I am in training.
“The guy’s old [31, with an 11-2 pro record], he’s an LFA champion, he’s been in five rounds before, he’s fit, cardio good. But when I put wrestling and grappling all together, he’s going to get gassed out. Because it’s different cardio.”
Claim the win, and Mokaev believes he will jump into the flyweight rankings. Never shy in calling out opponents already on that ladder, convincing someone thus far to take the bait has proved a little difficult.
“Last time they offered me top-15 guys, and nobody accepted,” he says. “But now I will actually be top 15, so they’ll have no choice but to fight me. Everyone will call me out.”
In theory, no more running.
“They can run,” Mokaev says. “But they can’t hide.”
To that, Abu Dhabi feels a perfect platform to coax a contender into the light. The UFC returns to the capital on October 22, with a swiftly stacked card at UFC 280 headlined by the vacant lightweight title bout between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev.
Like Makhachev, Mokaev is Dagestan born, but fights out of Manchester, England, having moved there as a refugee aged 12. Keen to remain active, he has circled on the calendar September, or October, or Madison Square Garden in November.
Certainly, Abu Dhabi has particular appeal: not only given his roots, but Mokaev attributes a large portion of his rise to the prince of Bahrain, Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Before the UFC, he competed regularly in the Bahrain-based Brave Combat Federation.
“Abu Dhabi would be amazing because Sheikh Khalid and Sheikh Nasser [bin Hamad Al Khalifa] would come over,” Mokaev says. “I would have incredible support over there, especially because I fought in Bahrain many times. With them in my corner, the whole of Abu Dhabi would be behind me.
“And, as a kid I watched a lot of Islam’s and [retired former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s] fights - they are great role models for the younger generation. It would be a pleasure to be on the same card.”
Azhar Muhammad Saul, partner and senior vice president at Paradigm, underlines the connection to the region.
“Muhammad was keen to get straight back in after UFC London in March, and this will be another good test for him,” he says. “Having spent some time with us in Dubai earlier in the year, I know just how much the region is getting behind him and his inspirational story.”
Abu Dhabi would make sense for UFC bout No 3. As for potential opponents, Mokaev cites Jeff Molina, Tim Elliott, Matt Schnell and Alex Perez as candidates. They are ranked 14th, 10th, eighth and sixth at flyweight respectively.
Clearly, Mokaev is intent on making true on his dream of becoming the youngest champion in UFC history – Jon Jones holds that mark, aged 23 - and speaks with clarity and a conviction that the road is indeed paved to gold.
“I think I’m closer actually than I predicted,” Mokaev says, matter-of-factly.
First though, Saturday night, The O2 Arena, and the scene of that debut where he delivered on the promise.
“I know it will be on late in Abu Dhabi, but the support I receive means a lot,” Mokaev says.
And anyway, those who tune in on Saturday night will apparently be in for another treat.
“What to expect?” Mokaev concludes, “Second-round finish.”
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
if you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals (more at www.hertz.com/etihad). A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com
Fight card
1. Featherweight 66kg: Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg: Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg:Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg: Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg: Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg: Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg: Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Ahmed Abdelraouf of Egypt (EGY)
9. Featherweight 66kg: Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
'Skin'
Dir: Guy Nattiv
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
Price, base / as tested: Dh76,900 / Dh110,900
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: Torque: 352Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.5L / 100km
How do Sim card scams work?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards by claiming to be the victim, often pretending their phone has been lost or stolen in order to secure a new Sim.
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
RESULTS
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The%20specs
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Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
