Mohammad Yahya made a successful first defence of his UAE Warriors Arabia lightweight mixed martial arts title with victory over Moroccan Mohamed El Jaghdal at Etihad Arena on Sunday.
Yahya ended the contest with an arm-triangle choke with just under a minute left in the fifth and final round in the seventh edition of the UAE Warriors Arabia, the concluding event of the Abu Dhabi promotion’s first triple header.
First up was the UAE Warriors Arabia-2 followed by the UAE Warriors-28 (International) before the Arabia edition.
Yahya, the first Emirati to hold an MMA professional title, improved his record to 11 wins and three losses after the result.
“First of all, I would like to thank everyone who stood behind me to get me here, and my family for all their support,” Yahya said. “On the contest, it was five rounds and there wasn’t any hurry for me to finish it off early. I was waiting for those opportunities. I think I had that chance in Round 3 but my opponent got away.
“I was glad to finish him off towards the end of the final round and super happy to at the end result in my first defence of the title. I’ll have to now wait and see what the promotion’s plan for me. I would be glad to get into the cage at the next UAE Warriors fight card.”
In the main supporting contest, Jordan's Ali Al Qaisi clinched the inaugural UAE Warriors Arabia featherweight belt with a unanimous decision victory over Egyptian Ahmed Faress in the 12-fight card.
In the UAE Warriors Africa-2 on the opening night of the triple header, Wisem Hammami won the inaugural welterweight title defeating Moroccan Badreddine Diani in a TKO.
In the UAE Warriors-28 (International), Will Fleury of Ireland scored a unanimous decision over Syrian Tarek Suleiman (50-45, 50-45, 50-45), to take the inaugural UAE Warriors middleweight belt.
Corinne Laframboise made short work of Venezuelan Carolina Jimenez to grab the vacant women’s UAE Warriors flyweight crown. The Canadian ending the contest in 4 minutes 13 seconds in the first round.
UAE Warriors 29: Arabia 7 Results
Lightweight title contest: Mohammad Yahya+(UAE) beat Mohamed El Jaghdal+(MAR) - Submission+(arm-triangle choke) at 4:01 of Round 5
Featherweight title contest:Ali Al Qaisi+(JOR) beat Ahmed Faress+(EGY) - Unanimous Decision+(49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Welterweight:Abdulla Al Boushieri+(KUW) versus Yassin Najid+(MAR) - No-contest+(Accidental illegal up-kick)
Featherweight:Hussein Salem+(IRQ) beat Hamza Bougamza+(SWE) - Submission+(rear-naked choke) at 3:34 of Round 1
Welterweight:Abdulla Aldabal+(UAE) beat Walid Saad+(EGY) - TKO+(ground and pound) at 0:38 of Round 1
Bantamweight:Faris Khaleel Asha+(JIR) beat Philippe Massoud+(LEB) - Split decision+(29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Flyweight:Narwas Abzakh+(JOR) beat Mahmoud Atef+(MAR) - Submission+(baseball choke) at 0:35 of Round 1
Lightweight:Abdi Farah+(NOR) beat Fadi Al Wakeil+(SYR) - KO+(overhand right) at 1:07 of Round 1
Flyweight+(female):Hassna Gaber+(MAR) beat Sabriye Sengul+(TUR) - Unanimous decision+(29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Welterweight:Adel Ibrahim+(LEB) beat Reda Maroufi+(MAR) - KO+(Punches) at 2:21 of Round 1
Flyweight:Mohammad Abzakh+(JOR) beat Jasser Belkilani+(TUN) - Unanimous decision+(30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Flyweight:Mohamed Mamdooh+(EGY) beat Ekonian Andenet - Unanimous decision+(30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
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Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
