Undefeated Chechen fighter Khamzat Chimaev returns to the octagon for the first time in a year when he takes on Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Chimaev was forced to pull out of his bout with former middleweight champion Whittaker at the inaugural UFC Saudi Arabia event in June due to illness, which his team called “devastating”.
But Chimaev is now ready to take on the Australian fighter in what is the co-main event – alongside the Ilia Topuria-Max Holloway featherweight title fight – at a sold out Etihad Arena on Yas Island and the 30-year-old remains undefeated in 13 professional fights.
He has not fought since beating Kamaru Usman by majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28) at UFC 294 in October 2023 – also in Abu Dhabi – when the Nigerian only took up the fight on two weeks' notice after original opponent, Paulo Costa, withdrew due to injury.
Chimaev was far from convincing against the former welterweight champion who was stepping up in weight for the first time but revealed that he had again been struggling with illness on the morning of that bout.
UFC 308 open workouts - in pictures
“I pushed on from first second to last second on my sparring [against Usman] and I don’t think it will be different in the cage this time,” he said in Wednesday's press conference.
“I did not say anything about my health before the Usman fight or everyone thinks that's what happened and went inside the cage healthy. So, it was not that.
“I was sick in the morning before the fight, so I am. I don’t find excuses, I don’t cry like I had a sore throat and all this … I jump in and show with my fights. We are all fighters, we don’t need to find some excuses.”
Former champion Whittaker, whose record stands at 26-7, told The National this week that he plans to “hunt [Chimaev] down from the first second to the last” and “smash” his opponent as he looks to set up another title shot in the middleweight division.
The 33-year-old held the crown for more than two years until he was beaten by Israel Adesanya in October 2019 and heads into his latest contest as the division’s No 3-ranked contender following back-to-back wins.
But UAE resident Chimaev – who blazed a trail through the UFC since debuting in Abu Dhabi in 2020 – insists the fight holds no fears for him.
“We'll see in the cage,” he said when asked if this promises to be one of his hardest nights in the octagon. “Anyone at the top can be a hard fight. We'll see, maybe it's an easy fight, maybe it's a hard fight for me, so we don't know. We’ll see that on the night.
“Everyone talks about my condition, but nobody sees what I've done. I always fight. I'm not that guy who is jumping around and trying to save my energy. I go all the way for a finish.
“I try to finish a guy, but if it doesn't work, I'm going to go all the way. It doesn't matter, I'm here to win my fight. I'm here now and ready … I'm going to go for my victory and take my money, go home and be happy.
“Of course, whatever happens in my life, I have always won. Whatever I fight with, I always win. I think that right now here, I am the best fighter [in the weight division] in the UFC. This is just the point of time. So, whatever others say is not important to me.”
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.”
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
RESULTS
6.30pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Final Song, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
Winner Almanaara, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Grand Argentier, Brett Doyle, Doug Watson.
8.15pm Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Major Partnership, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner Universal Order, Richard Mullen, David Simcock.
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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