Bruno Machado's title showdown highlights UAE Warriors triple-header

Defending champion Bruno Machado's contest against Korean Yun Jae Jung is the highlight of a packed weekend as the UAE Warriors embark on their 2023 campaign at the Etihad Arena.

Warriors Africa opens the triple-header at Yas Island on Friday, followed by UAE Warriors 36 (international) on Saturday, and Warriors Arabia on Sunday.

Brazilian Machado (15 wins, 9 losses) was due to meet Martun Mezhlumyan but the Armenian withdrew due to illness, opening the door for Jung (8-2) to make his Warriors debut in their lightweight title contest on Saturday.

“In my opinion, I’ll have to be a little bit careful because my new opponent is a hard guy and I didn’t have a lot of time to train specifically for him,” Machado, a long-time Abu Dhabi resident, said at the pre-fight press conference at the Palms Sports headquarters in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

“I trained for Martun for three months and now I have to face another opponent. But, I’ll fight the same way I do and keep this belt with me.”

The opening Warriors Africa is headlined by the featherweight title contest between Guinea's Lamo Mohamed Camara (5-1) and Cameroonian Jaures Dea (3-2).

Camara made a winning debut in the Warriors with a unanimous decision over Tunisian Mounir Khalifa in September last year.

“I have been yearning for this opportunity for a long time and come Friday, I’ll finish Jaures Dea,” Camara said, hoping for a title contest against Ali Al Qaisi for the Warriors International featherweight belt.

“After this fight, I want Ali. However, that can wait because my focus is on the Jaures fight.”

Dea has made 10 Warriors appearances with six victories. His last fight was a unanimous decision over Zimbabwean Sylvester Chipfumbu, also in September.

“Let’s wait and see the result on Friday,” Dea said. “I’m not going to leave without this belt. I have prepared well and want to get on with my journey and return to the Warriors International.”

Fouad Darwish, chief executive officer of Palms Sports, promised a rematch between Al Qaisi and Jesse Arnett in May.

“We are going to stage eight events before June 31, and 16 for the year,” Darwish said.

“We are already locked March 17, 18 and 19. We will stage a double header on May 18 and 19, and see Ali Al Qaisi and Jesse Arnett settle their scores for once and for all.

“We are committed to hold another eight between July and December.”

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.

It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.

There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.

In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.

In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.

It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.

The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Plan to boost public schools

A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.

It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.

Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.

Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.