Bruno Machado celebrates after unanimous decision against Frenchman Mickael Lebout to win the UAE Warriors lightweight title in January 2021. Photo: UAE Warriors
Bruno Machado celebrates after unanimous decision against Frenchman Mickael Lebout to win the UAE Warriors lightweight title in January 2021. Photo: UAE Warriors
Bruno Machado celebrates after unanimous decision against Frenchman Mickael Lebout to win the UAE Warriors lightweight title in January 2021. Photo: UAE Warriors
Bruno Machado celebrates after unanimous decision against Frenchman Mickael Lebout to win the UAE Warriors lightweight title in January 2021. Photo: UAE Warriors

UAE Warriors kick off 2023 with triple header at Etihad Arena


Amith Passela
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE Warriors will stage a triple header at the Etihad Arena on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island this month.

The three-day event kicks off with UAE Warriors Africa on Friday, February 24, followed by International and Arabia fight cards on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

The highlight of the weekend is the lightweight title contest between defending champion Bruno Machado (15-9) and Martun Mezhlumyan (14-3) in UAE Warriors 36 (International) on Saturday.

Brazilian Machado was last seen in action in a high-profile boxing bout with MMA legend Anderson Silva, in the co-main event of Floyd Mayweather's fight last year in Abu Dhabi.

Former PFL $1 million tournament winner Emiliano Sordi (23-11-1) will meet Asylzhan Bakhytzhanuly (13-4-1) in the cards’ co-main event.

The popular Argentine will look to impress in his UAE Warriors debut while Kazakhstan's Bakhytzhanuly has the opportunity to score the biggest win of his career.

Friday will see the fourth instalment of the UAE Warriors Africa series.

The first UAE Warriors Africa featherweight champion will be crowned when "The Crazy Cameroonian" Jaures Dea (9-5) and Guinea’s Mohamed Camara (5-1) battle it out for the title.

The African series was successfully launched in early 2022 with the goal of providing a platform for fighters of African heritage to compete on a global stage.

The third day will see the UAE’s very own Mohammad Yahya (11-3) defend his Arabia lightweight title against the France-based Souhil Tahiri (5-3-1).

A pioneer in the regional MMA scene, Yahya has been competing for a decade and over the past two years has hit peak form, compiling a four-fight win-streak, including a KO win to capture the UAE Warriors Arabia title.

Starring in the co-main event is Jordanian Nawras Abzakh (10-4), who will fight for the inaugural UAE Warriors Arabia flyweight title when he faces Lebanon's Jonny Touma (5-1).

Ali Al Qaisi wins UAE Warriors featherweight title

  • Ali Al Qaisi celebrates with the featherweight belt after beating Jesse Arnett at UAE Warriors 33 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. All photos Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Ali Al Qaisi celebrates with the featherweight belt after beating Jesse Arnett at UAE Warriors 33 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. All photos Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Ali Al Qaisi holds the featherweight belt after beating Jesse Arnett at UAE Warriors 33.
    Ali Al Qaisi holds the featherweight belt after beating Jesse Arnett at UAE Warriors 33.
  • Ali Al Qaisi throws a punch at Jesse Arnett.
    Ali Al Qaisi throws a punch at Jesse Arnett.
  • Ali Al Qaisi lands a kick on Jesse Arnett.
    Ali Al Qaisi lands a kick on Jesse Arnett.
  • Ali Al Qaisi throws a high kick at Jesse Arnett.
    Ali Al Qaisi throws a high kick at Jesse Arnett.
  • Ali Al Qaisi and Jesse Arnett fight during their in the featherweight title clash at UAE Warriors 33.
    Ali Al Qaisi and Jesse Arnett fight during their in the featherweight title clash at UAE Warriors 33.
  • Ali Al Qaisi and Jesse Arnett after their featherweight title clash at UAE Warriors 33.
    Ali Al Qaisi and Jesse Arnett after their featherweight title clash at UAE Warriors 33.
  • Ali Al Qaisi celebrates his win at UAE Warriors 33 with his team.
    Ali Al Qaisi celebrates his win at UAE Warriors 33 with his team.
  • Josh Togo celebrates beating Tahir Abdullaev after their welterweight title clash at UAE Warriors 33.
    Josh Togo celebrates beating Tahir Abdullaev after their welterweight title clash at UAE Warriors 33.
  • Josh Togo punches Tahir Abdullaev during their welterweight title fight at UAE Warriors 33.
    Josh Togo punches Tahir Abdullaev during their welterweight title fight at UAE Warriors 33.
  • Josh Togo kicks Tahir Abdullaev during their welterweight titlle clash.
    Josh Togo kicks Tahir Abdullaev during their welterweight titlle clash.
  • Tahir Abdullaev punches Josh Togo during their welterweight title clash.
    Tahir Abdullaev punches Josh Togo during their welterweight title clash.
  • Josh Togo celebrates the win against Tahir Abdullaev.
    Josh Togo celebrates the win against Tahir Abdullaev.
  • Josh Togo kicks Tahir Abdullaev during their welterweight title clash at UAE Warriors 33.
    Josh Togo kicks Tahir Abdullaev during their welterweight title clash at UAE Warriors 33.
From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Updated: February 07, 2023, 8:43 AM