By his own admission, Charles Oliveira estimates he was at 10 per cent of his capacity in defeat to Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi last October.
The Brazilian, at the time de facto UFC lightweight champion, lost comprehensively to his Dagestan opponent at Etihad Arena, his second-round submission relinquishing the vacant title he had defended spectacularly twice. It brought to a crashing halt Oliveira's impressive 11-fight win streak.
Ten months on from UFC 280, and little more than two out from the lightweight title rematch at UFC 294 back at the scene of that uncharacteristic night, Oliveira still can’t really pinpoint why it went so wrong.
“I don’t know how to explain it and don’t know why it happened,” the UFC record-holder for both submissions and victories tells The National from his Sao Paulo home. “My true fans understand who I am and what I represent.
“All my previous fights I’m always coming forward, fighting with a lot of heart. I can get knocked down, but I always get back up, go the distance. But in Abu Dhabi I wasn’t there.
“But that fight is already gone. It’s almost one year ago, so let’s focus on the future, on the now: Charles Oliveira against Islam Makhachev, October 21, for this belt. That’s what I’m focused on.”
Making peace with the defeat, a first in a remarkable second-stage UFC career that yielded those 11 wins and lightweight gold, was the first step to getting back on track.
“In truth, I learnt a lot of things,” Oliveira says. “I learnt regardless of what happens in your life, whether you win or you lose, it’s in the past, you have to move on. You’ve got to keep looking forward; it’s already gone.
“What’s passed has passed. I’ve already won fights. Now my focus is on being happy and preparing for the next fight.”
Oliveira, 33, had been campaigning for this next fight, the rematch against Makhachev on Yas Island, to take place beyond October.
He had rebounded from the UFC 280 loss in stunning fashion in June, dismantling a surging Beneil Dariush at UFC 289 in Canada.
Snapping Dariush’s eight-fight win streak, the first-round TKO not only reminded of Oliveira’s still-there pedigree, but it set up the chance of redemption against Makhachev, 31.
Yet Oliveira, 34-9 in professional MMA, publicly stated that he could not fight for the title until November at the earliest, preferably in his homeland. He reiterated as much during last month’s UFC International Fight Week.
But here he is, preparing for Makhachev 2, in Abu Dhabi.
“To be honest, I’ve been in the UFC for 13 years and I’m learning how to play the game,” he says, flashing a smile. “I knew the UFC were planning on a fight in November in Sao Paulo, so why not try for there considering the last fight wasn’t in my country? So I played the game. But it didn’t work out.”
So, Abu Dhabi it is. Makhachev, who has already competed and won three times there, calls the capital his second home. Patently, it places the odds in his favour.
“I respect this so much,” Oliveira says. “Absolutely he’s going to have the advantage because he’s there all the time. Same as me, I'd have that same advantage if we’re fighting in Sao Paulo. But if you look at all my previous fights, almost all of them have been in the house of my opponent, away from home.
“It doesn’t make a lot of difference for me. If you’re focused, mentally and physically, everything will go right. It will be a big fight, big opponent, on a great stage – I have great respect for Abu Dhabi – a great show. And I’m ready for it.”
In fact, heading into the lion’s den simply adds to the motivation. “Absolutely, without doubt,” Oliveira says. “I want to be the world champion again. That’s why I’m here.
“It doesn’t bother me at all, fighting in Abu Dhabi, in the house of Islam. But I’m very happy; I’m sure I’ll have a lot of fans supporting me there.”
Oliveira knows, irrespective of the confidence-boosting comeback against Dariush, that he enters UFC 294 as the underdog. But, for the man from a favela in Sao Paulo who has been written off many times, he is familiar with confounding expectations.
He has identified the key to success second time round. “Generate joy, happiness,” Oliveira says. “That’s the crucial point. And the more you dare, the more joy you get.”
Getting his hands on the title again, becoming a two-time champion and bringing the belt back to Brazil, would provide the ultimate joy, offer unbridled happiness.
That much comes across clearly now, when asked what victory on October 21 would mean to him.
“My God, I don’t know,” Oliveira says, puffing out his cheeks. “I’ve no idea. Truthfully, I don’t know – to feel that same feeling I felt before, some time ago … for sure, I’m going to cry a lot.
“I don’t even want to think about it. I just want to be focused and go get it again.”
He tries not to allow, he says, his mind to wander even in those quiet moments, when the training is done and he’s alone at night with his thoughts.
“I don’t want to create big expectations, big things in my head,” Oliveira says. “I know I’ll be happy if I dare, take a risk. If I train, dedicate myself, be focused, then I’ll be champion one more time.
“If you work hard and dedicate yourself to what you want, it will happen. The history of champions, it will happen - you’ll get that special moment with the belt.
“But that all comes afterwards. It doesn’t make sense to think, ‘Ah, my God, how’s it going to be?’ Because you’ve got to focus on everything that comes first to get that moment.”
Oliveira believes he will be better for his Abu Dhabi experience last time, knowing what to expect from what was his first time competing in professional MMA far beyond Brazil and the US.
Broadening his horizons is becoming more important: he is learning English in an attempt to connect more with his fans.
“English is really hard,” Oliveira concedes. “But I’m working on it.”
The endeavour is evident on social media. Take the recent back-and-forth with Conor McGregor, the former two-division champion and the UFC’s most bankable asset.
“Conor spoke a lot, speaking a few times about me,” Oliveira says. “That’s important because he knows what he’s saying, what he’s doing.
“A fight with Conor will make a lot of money. Conor sells so much; I also sell a lot. Conor spoke, I spoke in a respectful way, and Conor responded in a very crazy way.
“But it’s this. Let’s focus on the fight with Islam and then after that, who knows? Maybe we’ll have Charles Oliveira versus Conor McGregor. I’ve already said I want this and I’m waiting on him. The moment he wants it, I’ll be there.”
But, as Oliveira emphasises, it’s Makhachev first. Back to Abu Dhabi, to face a champion who increased his win streak to 12 – his pro record stands at 24-1 – following his February defence against Alexander Volkanovski.
Oliveira aims to avenge that defeat 10 months ago, to reclaim what he views as rightfully his. To cement his legend.
“A guy who’s won the belt two times, beaten his opponent in his own back yard, making history, that’ll be my legacy,” Oliveira says. “That’s why I’m here.
“Making history in MMA, being the world champion one more time? It’ll be a giant victory.”
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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.
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Vaccine Progress in the Middle East
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 592bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Price: Dh980,000
On sale: now
History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Racecard
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections: 6.30pm: RM Lam Tara, 7.05pm: Al Mukhtar Star, 7.40pm: Bochart, 8.15pm: Magic Lily, 8.50pm: Roulston Scar, 9.25pm: Quip, 10pm: Jalmoud
Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
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Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)
Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach (6.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldof v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)
Sunday
Augsburg v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The years Ramadan fell in May
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
New Zealand T20 squad
New Zealand T20 squad: Tim Southee (captain), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Will Young
