The main event at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi is official after Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev took to the scales first at the weigh-in on Friday morning.
Keen no doubt to make a statement following his controversial missed weight at UFC 274 in May – he was subsequently stripped of the lightweight title - Oliveira ran onto stage before clocking in at 154.5 lbs.
The Brazilian, half a pound over the 155lb limit back in May, was cheered on by his heavy squad of teammates at the weigh-in.
Moments later, Makhachev was on the scale, with the No 4-ranked lightweight contender weighing in at an identical mark to Saturday night’s opponent.
The pair, considered two of the lead lightweights in the world, will battle for the vacant belt at the top of the bill at Etihad Arena.
Meanwhile, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski came in on the 155lb button on Friday morning. The Australian was serving as back-up to the main event, but will not be needed after both made weight.
However, his commendable endeavour should not be in vain: Volkanovski is expected to meet the winner of Oliveira-Makhachev early next year as he bids to become a two-division champion.
Saturday’s other championship bout has been made official, too. Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, set for the second defence of his crown, came in right on the 135lb limit, while rival TJ Dillashaw – the American is a former two-time bantamweight belt-holder – later matched his weight.
In one of the other standout clashes on the card, both Petr Yan and Sean O'Malley made weight. The hugely talented bantamweights, who got a little heated at the official press conference on Thursday night, were 136lbs and 135.5lbs, respectively.
One bout, though, has been cancelled: featherweight Zubaira Tukhugov, a teammate of Makhachev's, did not make weight by a considerable margin and therefore will not face Lucas Almeida.
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
If%20you%20go
%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20regular%20flights%20from%20Dubai%20to%20Kathmandu.%20Fares%20with%20Air%20Arabia%20and%20flydubai%20start%20at%20Dh1%2C265.%3Cbr%3EIn%20Kathmandu%2C%20rooms%20at%20the%20Oasis%20Kathmandu%20Hotel%20start%20at%20Dh195%20and%20Dh120%20at%20Hotel%20Ganesh%20Himal.%3Cbr%3EThird%20Rock%20Adventures%20offers%20professionally%20run%20group%20and%20individual%20treks%20and%20tours%20using%20highly%20experienced%20guides%20throughout%20Nepal%2C%20Bhutan%20and%20other%20parts%20of%20the%20Himalayas.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: AF Senad, Nathan Crosse (jockey), Kareem Ramadan (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Ashjaan, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Amirah, Conner Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Jap Al Yaasoob, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.
4pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Manhunter, Ryan Curatolo, Mujeeb Rahman.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
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