A tenth career win and first championship title made it the biggest night in Muhidin Abubakar's fast rising MMA career.
Featuring in the UAE Warriors interim bantamweight title contest, the Somali-British fighter clinched a split decision over Brazilian Victor Nunes at the Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
His victory was in part propelled by a lesson learnt from his defeat to South African Luthando Biko by unanimous decision in the Abu Dhabi promotion in September 2022. That defeat lit a fire in his belly that powered him all the way to the title.
“That day I went back dejected and disappointed but determined to push myself that I would return as a better fighter,” Abubakar said, following his third successive win in the promotion.
“I am really overwhelmed of tonight’s result and take back a title belt home as a reward for the hard yards I put in since that defeat. Of course it was a tough fight and I think I deserved it.”
Abubakar reeled off three wins in Cage Steel and FightStar series back in England since he turned professional.
He suffered his only defeat in the UAE Warriors debut before returning to Abu Dhabi after four successful appearances in the FightStar promotion.
Successive victories over Gift Walker and Alfredo Muaiad earned him a spot for the interim championship match.
“It has been a wonderful journey so far and I’ll definitely be back for the title defence anytime the promotion want me for it,” Abubakar said.
“For now, I’m going to celebrate this moment and then after a little break, get back to the gym to stay prepared for my next fight.”
In the co-main fight, UFC veteran Tanner Boser made a successful debut in the promotion against Brazilian Vinicius Moreira in the heavyweight contest.
The Canadian dominated the fight after a close opening round, forcing Moreira to retire a minute and 55 seconds into the third round. Following heavy punishment in the second round, the Brazilian was left dazed and unsteady on his feet.
Vladislav Rudnev maintained his perfect record with a unanimous decision over UAE Warriors debutant Piotr Niedzielski of Poland in the welterweight division.
The result moved the Ukrainian’s record to 11-0 and 3-0 in the Abu Dhabi promotion, inching him closer to a possible UAE Warriors title shot.
Martun Mezhlumyan overcame the promotion’s Brazilian debutant Italo Gomes in the same weight division.
The Armenian clawed back from some heavy early punishments he received to end the contest with a rear naked choke two minutes and 27 seconds into the third round.
Mezhlumyan stretched his record in the promotion to 5-1 after his defeat on debut.
“I love this promotion and I love this city, Abu Dhabi. I have competed in here for nearly five years and I want to keep on returning for as long as possible,” Mezhlumyan said.
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Anti-semitic attacks
The annual report by the Community Security Trust, which advises the Jewish community on security , warned on Thursday that anti-Semitic incidents in Britain had reached a record high.
It found there had been 2,255 anti-Semitic incidents reported in 2021, a rise of 34 per cent from the previous year.
The report detailed the convictions of a number of people for anti-Semitic crimes, including one man who was jailed for setting up a neo-Nazi group which had encouraged “the eradication of Jewish people” and another who had posted anti-Semitic homemade videos on social media.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
