• Mohammad Yahya celebrates after his victory in the UAE Warriors Arabia lightweight title at Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Abu Dhani on Friday, September 4, 2021. Courtesy Palms Sports
    Mohammad Yahya celebrates after his victory in the UAE Warriors Arabia lightweight title at Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Abu Dhani on Friday, September 4, 2021. Courtesy Palms Sports
  • Mohammad Yahya lands a high kick on Yazid Choufane. Courtesy UAE Warriors
    Mohammad Yahya lands a high kick on Yazid Choufane. Courtesy UAE Warriors
  • Mohammad Yahya avoids a punch from Yazid Choufane. Courtesy UAE Warriors
    Mohammad Yahya avoids a punch from Yazid Choufane. Courtesy UAE Warriors
  • Mohammad Yahya celebrates his title win. Courtesy UAE Warriors
    Mohammad Yahya celebrates his title win. Courtesy UAE Warriors
  • Mohammad Yahya with Palms Sports chairman Abdulmunam Al Hashemi. Courtesy Palms Sports
    Mohammad Yahya with Palms Sports chairman Abdulmunam Al Hashemi. Courtesy Palms Sports
  • Rashed Dawood on the attack against Laith Kayali. Courtesy UAE Warriors
    Rashed Dawood on the attack against Laith Kayali. Courtesy UAE Warriors
  • Hadi Omar Al Hussaini takes down Egyptian Emad Arafa
    Hadi Omar Al Hussaini takes down Egyptian Emad Arafa

Mohammad Yahya makes history as first Emirati to win MMA title


Amith Passela
  • English
  • Arabic

Mohammad Yahya created history when he became the first Emirati fighter to win a mixed martial art title on Friday.

Yahya stopped the France-based Algerian Yazid Choufane in the second round of their lightweight contest in the UAE Warriors Arabia 4 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena.

Yahya floored Choufane with a right and then launched a barrage of punches when his opponent was on the canvas before the referee stopped the contest 4 minutes 48 seconds into the second round.

“I feel on top of the world,” Yahya said while celebrating the biggest night of his MMA career.

“I have many people to thank as I celebrate this moment. Firstly, the UAE Warriors for providing me with this opportunity, my coaches, family and my fans.

“It has been a long and hard journey but I have loved every moment of it until now. This is a moment I have been waiting for so long and this success is not only for me but my country and its people.”

The exchanges were even between the two fighters until Yahya landed a straight right to Choufane’s face that sent him crashing down. The Emirati then took advantage to quickly finish the contest.

In the other title battle, Moroccan Badreddine Diani clinched a split decision over Abdullah Al Boushehri of Kuwait for the welterweight belt.

It was a memorable night for the Emiratis as three others joined Yahya’s victory march.

Rashid Dawood won a split decision over Jordanian debutant Laith Kayali in the welterweight to stretch his unbeaten run to three.

Hadi Omar Al Hussaini outclassed Egyptian Emad Arafa in their featherweight fight in the second round with an arm triangle choke to make it two out-of-two and Abdulla Aldabal made a winning debut, ending the contest in round one with a triangle choke on Egyptian Mohamed El Leboudy.

Remaining Fixtures

Wednesday: West Indies v Scotland
Thursday: UAE v Zimbabwe
Friday: Afghanistan v Ireland
Sunday: Final

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
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It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.

A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.

The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.

In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.

The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.

Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.

Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.

“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.

The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.

“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.

“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”

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Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

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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
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The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match

Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last

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Jetour T1 specs

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Updated: September 04, 2021, 7:14 AM