• UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, left, and Max Holloway during the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday, October 25, ahead of their UFC 308 title fight at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, left, and Max Holloway during the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday, October 25, ahead of their UFC 308 title fight at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria weighs in at 145lbs ahead of his title fight against Max Holloway.
    UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria weighs in at 145lbs ahead of his title fight against Max Holloway.
  • Max Holloway at Friday's weigh in.
    Max Holloway at Friday's weigh in.
  • Remsey Gabriel and Suzette Guerrero have travelled from the US to be at UFC 308.
    Remsey Gabriel and Suzette Guerrero have travelled from the US to be at UFC 308.
  • UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway face off ahead of their title fight during the ceremonial weigh-in at UFC 308.
    UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway face off ahead of their title fight during the ceremonial weigh-in at UFC 308.
  • Fans come to watch the ceremonial weigh-in at UFC 308.
    Fans come to watch the ceremonial weigh-in at UFC 308.
  • Fans queue to see the ceremonial weigh-in at UFC 308.
    Fans queue to see the ceremonial weigh-in at UFC 308.
  • UFC middleweight's Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev face off during the ceremonial weigh-in.
    UFC middleweight's Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev face off during the ceremonial weigh-in.
  • Fans arrive for the weigh-in.
    Fans arrive for the weigh-in.
  • UFC fans ask questions before the ceremonial weigh-in at UFC 308.
    UFC fans ask questions before the ceremonial weigh-in at UFC 308.
  • UFC fans at Etihad Arena.
    UFC fans at Etihad Arena.
  • Middleweight Khamzat Chimaev comes in at 186lbs ahead of his fight against Robert Whittaker.
    Middleweight Khamzat Chimaev comes in at 186lbs ahead of his fight against Robert Whittaker.
  • Welterweights Geoff Neal and Rafael Dos Anjos face off ahead of their fight.
    Welterweights Geoff Neal and Rafael Dos Anjos face off ahead of their fight.
  • UFC fans ask questions before the ceremonial weigh-in at UFC 308.
    UFC fans ask questions before the ceremonial weigh-in at UFC 308.
  • Middleweights Ismail Naurdiev and Bruno Silva face off.
    Middleweights Ismail Naurdiev and Bruno Silva face off.

UFC 308: Ilia Topuria predicts first-round knockout against Max Holloway


  • English
  • Arabic

Latest updates from UFC 308

Ilia Topuria on Friday predicted he will deliver a first-round knockout against Max Holloway in their headline bout at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Featherweight champion Topuria goes into the top-of-the bill clash at Etihad Arena with a perfect 15-win record.

And the Georgian-Spanish fighter intends to make short work of American Holloway, a former UFC champion, who holds a 26-7 (win/loss) record.

Speaking at the ceremonial weigh-in at the arena on Yas Island on Friday, Topuria said: “I’m taking him out in the first round.”

Holloway responded: “We’ll find out Saturday night,” before revealing his mindset for the contest, saying. “Just keep grinding, man. Keep your head down and keep grinding. Anything is possible.”

Ahead of his middleweight co-main event against Robert Whittaker, Khamzat Chimaev dismissed the idea of the bout going the distance, declaring: “I’m here to finish him”.

Whittaker hit back, saying: “He might be the best in wrestling, but we’re not going to be wrestling. I’ll be fighting my fight and we’ll see if he’s as good as he says.”

Things took an unexpected turn when Dorobshokh Nabotov, an undefeated Tajik fighter yet to appear in UFC, addressed CEO Dana White, asking for a chance to fight in the world’s leading combat sports promotion.

Nabotov, sat among fans, stood up and declared: “I don’t have a question; I came here for a fight on short notice … I’ve never had a manager, I did it all by myself.”

White, impressed by the fighter's determination, hinted the stunt might have done the trick and that a future opportunity could be in the offing.

Meanwhile, White went on to highlight Abu Dhabi’s growing significance in the sport, calling it “a key location for the UFC”, stating “every event held in this city has been a huge success”.

Robert Whittaker, left, and Khamzat Chimaev square up during the ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Robert Whittaker, left, and Khamzat Chimaev square up during the ceremonial weigh-in at Etihad Arena. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima


Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650

Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder

Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm

Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: CVT

Power: 170bhp

Torque: 220Nm

Price: Dh98,900

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

EMILY%20IN%20PARIS%3A%20SEASON%203
%3Cp%3ECreated%20by%3A%20Darren%20Star%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Lily%20Collins%2C%20Philippine%20Leroy-Beaulieu%2C%20Ashley%20Park%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202.75%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying

Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari

Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Results

5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Reem Baynounah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Afham, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout

6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi

7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle

7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Haqeeqy, Dane O’Neill, John Hyde.

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Updated: October 25, 2024, 5:19 PM