After coming through arguably the biggest test of his UFC career to date, Belal Muhammad has reiterated his desire to fight for the welterweight title in Abu Dhabi later this year - describing competing in the capital for gold as “perfect”.
The division’s No 4-ranked contender, 34, recorded a dominant, unanimous decision victory against Gilbert Burns on Sunday morning in the co-main event at UFC 288 in New Jersey.
In doing so, Muhammad, who like Burns accepted the bout on short notice, lifted his unbeaten streak to 10 (nine wins, one no contest).
The American has made no secret of his wish to take on current welterweight champion Leon Edwards for the belt in October, when the UFC returns to Abu Dhabi for UFC 294.
Muhammad, a practising Muslim whose parents are Palestinian, has fought twice before in the emirate, the most recent in October, when he outclassed the previously unbeaten Sean Brady at UFC 280.
UFC president Dana White has confirmed Muhammad is in line for a title shot, but only after Edwards defends against No 2-ranked contender Colby Covington. A date or venue for that bout has yet to confirmed, although Edwards said last month that he wanted the next defence of his crown to be in Abu Dhabi in October.
Asked by reporters post-bout on Sunday who and where he wanted to fight for the title, Muhammad said: “Perfect world, we’re fighting in October in Abu Dhabi. That would be amazing. You know there’ll ain’t going to be no booing out there. To fight out there in front of my people would be great.
“But wherever it goes … we can fight in enemy territory, friendly territory, no territory. Just give me a cage and some gloves and I’m ready to throw down.”
As to whether he preferred to face Edwards or Covington, Muhammad replied: “Both of them can get it. I cannot wait, man. I’m just glad the boss, the man, Dana White, gave me the opportunity to fight for my shot. [And] now I earned my shot, I took my shot, there’s no denying me now.
“All I needed to hear was there’s nothing next but the title shot. So can’t wait.”
Muhammed, 23-3 as a professional, has previous with Edwards. The pair faced off inside the octagon in March 2021, but the bout was deemed a no contest after Edwards caught his opponent accidentally with an eye poke in the second round.
Two years on, and should the UFC move forward first with Edwards-Covington, Muhammad said he is willing to wait to meet the winner in his quest for the belt.
“As long as I got the guaranteed shot, that’s all I needed to hear," he said. "So now I know what’s next … you guys don’t know how hungry I am for this title shot; how hungry I am to win this gold.
“And I know it doesn’t matter what I have to do I’m going to get there. I popped up and took this opportunity [Burns] on three weeks’ notice because they said, 'If you win this fight you get the title shot’.
“And now I have the title shot, whoever has the belt, you don’t have no idea what’s coming to you. It’s going to be the best version of me you ever see in your life.
“Because this was three weeks’ notice; give me eight weeks’ notice, give me 12. It’s going to be harder for them guys. If I’m them, I’m going to want to fight right away and then get a quick turnaround, so they don’t have to deal with the best version of me.”
UFC 294 takes place on October 21 at Etihad Arena. No bouts have been confirmed, however, the card will feature at least one championship fight.
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
