The UFC’s next championship event in Abu Dhabi will take place in October, organisers confirmed on Friday.
The world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion will stage UFC 308 at Etihad Arena on October 26, where at least one title bout will feature on the card. The pay-per-view event will represent the second UFC show in the capital this year, with a Fight Night added to the calendar for August 3.
UFC 308, which forms part of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, marks the first numbered event of the partnership extension signed last October between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the UFC.
“We are thrilled to be hosting another exhilarating UFC event in Abu Dhabi,” Saleh Al Geziry, director general for tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said in a statement.
“Over the past five years, the UAE capital has staged unforgettable fights and witnessed the rise of champions, leaving an everlasting memory for fans around the region and the world.
“I personally cannot wait to experience UFC 308 firsthand, which further underlines Abu Dhabi's status as the international fight capital.”
UFC 308, set to be the 20th UFC event hosted by the emirate, will headline Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, a seven-day series of city-wide events.
While the card is yet to be announced, organisers said on Friday that VIP Experience packages will soon be available via On Location, the UFC’s Official VIP Experience provider. Those packages include “exclusive access with an official ticket package that can feature premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, meet-and-greets with UFC athletes and more”.
The UFC’s most recent visit to Abu Dhabi was last October, with UFC 294 headlined by lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s knockout victory against Alexander Volkanovski.
The UFC will stage three events in the Gulf this year, with the promotion holding an inaugural Fight Night in Riyadh on June 22 – part of the expanded agreement between UFC and DCT Abu Dhabi.
The deal, which runs until 2028, guarantees one numbered UFC event to be held in the capital each year, with additional Fight Nights to take place “across the Mena region”.
Maestro
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Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
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
RESULTS
6.30pm: Longines Conquest Classic Dh150,000 Maiden 1,200m.
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Winner: Secret Trade, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
10pm: Longines Moon Phase Master Collection Dh170,000 Handicap 2,000m.
Winner:
AGUERO'S PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD
Apps: 186
Goals: 127
Assists: 31
Wins: 117
Losses: 33
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE FIXTURES
Thursday, September 21
Al Dahfra v Sharjah (kick-off 5.35pm)
Al Wasl v Emirates (8.30pm)
Friday, September 22
Dibba v Al Jazira (5.25pm)
Al Nasr v Al Wahda (8.30pm)
Saturday, September 23
Hatta v Al Ain (5.25pm)
Ajman v Shabab Al Ahli (8.30pm)
360Vuz PROFILE
Date started: January 2017
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Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology
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Funding: $7 million
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The specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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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.
'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
