Javier Mendez says he expects the headline bout between his fighter Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi will be one of the greatest rematches in the sport’s history.
Makhachev, the current lightweight champion, defends his title against the featherweight belt-holder on Saturday night for the second time in eight months after Volkanovski stepped in for the injured Charles Oliveira on 11 days’ notice.
Both champions in their respective divisions, the two met in February at UFC 284 in Perth, when Makhachev prevailed by unanimous decision. The victory stretched Makhachev’s win streak to 12, while the defeat marked Volkanovski’s first loss in 23 fights.
However, the bout was hugely competitive, with some considering Volkanovski unfortunate not to get his hand raised.
And Mendez, Makhachev’s long-time coach, anticipates the second instalment of the rivalry will be even better to the first.
“Make no mistake about it, this is going to be one of the greatest champion-versus-champion match-ups,” Mendez told The National. “There’s never one that delivered like the first one did. Now we’re going to have the second one that’s going to deliver more than the first.
“Because fighters make fights. And these two guys colliding, they’re so well rounded, they complement each other. I see this as a great, great fight. I don’t see this as a one-sided affair; this is going to go back and forth again.
“It just depends who stays on their ‘A’ Game. Whether we can get Islam motivated and to stay on track, or they can get Alex motivated and to stay on track. One thing I do know, what I feel in my heart, is that we’re going to win.”
Mendez echoed Makhachev’s sentiment this week that Volkanovski has nothing to lose on Saturday, given he accepted the rematch on such short notice.
Oliveira, whom Makhachev defeated last October in Abu Dhabi to clinch the lightweight title for the first time, had to withdraw earlier this month having sustained a serious cut above his eye.
Volkanovski, 26-2 as a professional, has publicly stated all week that he is coming to take the fight to Makhachev from the opening bell.
“He’s definitely more dangerous, for sure,” Mendez said. “But also, we’ll be more dangerous. His game plan could potentially work, it could not. And it depends on how Islam can adjust to the new him. And I believe he will. Islam’s a sharpshooter.”
Asked why he believes Makhachev, 24-1, carries more of a threat now than he did in the initial encounter, Mendez said: “It’s growth. Islam’s got the grappling, the submissions, and he proved in the first fight he can strike. He out-struck him. To me he’s more dangerous.
“The other guy definitely has knockout power, and he’s definitely one of the greatest featherweights of all-time, and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time also. He’s a great fighter, don’t get me wrong.
“But I’m just stating my beliefs. And I believe my guy is better.”
Mendez, who understandably is convinced Makhachev won the first fight in February, said the late change in opponent will not affect his principal charge.
“Islam is ready to defend his title against whoever is put in front of him,” he said. “As [former champion and teammate] Khabib [Nurmagomedov] said, it doesn’t matter if King Kong makes 155lbs, Islam will fight King Kong. That’s the mentality the whole team has, and that’s 100 per cent the mentality Islam has.
“Would he have liked the rematch with Alex? Absolutely. But he wasn’t searching for it either. If you ask Islam what he ideally wants, it’s to be a two-division champion.
“So if he can be successful here, go up to 170lbs [welterweight] at some point, it’s an ideal situation.
“He’s searching for legacy. And I believe legacy is what he’s going to attain. I just comes down to what the UFC allow him to attain.”
February’s fight pitted against one another the top two in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. Makhachev went into that bout second only to Volkanovski, but despite getting the win, he did not leapfrog his opponent at the summit.
Mendez says that has formed another driver factor heading into UFC294.
“Islam's motivation is to show everyone he is the pound-for-pound No 1,” Mendez said. “And this will show it. ‘You guys robbed me of it the last time; this time I’ll put a stamp on it’.
“That’s what he’s going to do, he’s going to put a stamp on it. He should’ve been No 1. It made zero sense.”
Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov has provided the camp with a lift in the build-up. The former champion, who transitioned to coach after retiring undefeated in 2020 in Abu Dhabi but stopped to commit more time to his family, trained with Makhachev and team in Dubai in preparation for UFC 294.
“Khabib has been here training, helping him,” Mendez said. “He’s leading the team, which is a big plus. Before he was always on the phone talking to him, but his physical presence is huge, talking to the guys, rolling with the guys, giving inspirational speeches.
“He has been here, motivating everybody, encouraging them. He’s running the team like his father did.
“And that has a huge impact. There’s nothing I can do as a coach that can be bigger than what Khabib can do as a coach. Not with these guys, no way.
“There’s nothing more motivating than a guy from your region, who’s made it to the top, who you respect immensely. No coach can come in and overtake that. He’s the leader of these guys.”
Similarly, Mendez says the fact the title bout is taking place in Abu Dhabi, somewhere Makhachev has won three times previously and calls his second home, will proved hugely beneficial in his quest to defeat Volkanovski once more.
“It has a big impact,” Mendez said. “Confidence level, adrenalin, everything. Because most people are going to be there for you. He got a lot of boos in Australia, and whenever Alex did something that didn’t land the crowd still cheered.
“And that can have an impact in the perception of the fight. It definitely can influence the fight, but it doesn’t mean it’s right. But all three judges scored it Islam’s fight. Simple as that.
“Islam’s going to be pumped up. He’s a true champion, and a true champion fights whoever is put in front of him. He doesn’t pick and choose. If you’re the best in the world, it doesn’t matter who they put in front of you. And Islam’s the best.”
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
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Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
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."
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
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.”
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
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Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
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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.
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Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
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Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
