A new era post-Khabib Nurmagomedov began in the UFC lightweight division on Sunday, when Charles Oliveira defeated Michael Chandler for the vacant belt at UFC 262. We look at the likely contenders to challenge the talented Brazilian for the gold.
Dustin Poirier
Despite Oliveira's brilliant win, Dustin Poirier represents the best lightweight in the UFC for many. The American seemed set to finally get the gold following his superb victory against Conor McGregor at UFC 257 in January in Abu Dhabi, when he inflicted the latter's first knockout loss of his professional career.
There were even calls for Poirier to be handed the belt once Nurmagomedov vacated via his decision to retire. A former interim champion, Poirier apparently turned down a title shot to have a money-spinning trilogy with McGregor in July – their rivalry stands at 1-1 – which no one would begrudge him.
Win again, in the headline bout at UFC 264 and thus the biggest gain of his career, and it's that simple: Poirier, the No 1-ranked challenger, needs to take on Oliveira next.
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Dustin Poirier beats Conor McGregor at UFC 257
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Conor McGregor
The Irishman was among the first to congratulate Oliveira upon his championship win, albeit in true McGregor fashion. “Congrats to Olivera on becoming the 11th UFC lightweight champion,” tweeted the former champ early Sunday. “Wonder who Twelve is...”
First, though, McGregor needs to get past Poirier, a formidable feat in its own right, and considered a must-win for his title aspirations at 155 lbs. McGregor has lost twice in his past three outings, and by the time July 10 rolls around will have competed in the octagon only four times since late 2016.
Previously champion of two divisions simultaneously – the first in the sport – McGregor has been fine-tuning his game in Dubai ahead of UFC 264. He had made no secret of his ambitions: he expects to have the lightweight strap by the close of 2021.
Justin Gaethje
The former interim champion has felt somewhat like the forgotten man following his defeat to Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi in October. Until then, Gaethje was viewed as the most dangerous challenge the then-reigning champion had faced, but was outclassed at Flash Forum.
He has not competed since, and has found himself on the periphery as the title conversation centred around Oliveira, Chandler, Poirier and McGregor. Still, Gaethje remains an explosive fighter and a thrill to watch, while he currently ranks as the division’s No 2 challenger.
Also, most probably, he will feel a sense of injustice at being seemingly overlooked in regard to another shot at the belt.
However, would Gaethje get an immediate chance at title redemption? A clash with Chandler, his compatriot reeling from defeat on Sunday, looks a road the UFC may choose to go down first.
Beneil Dariush
What a tear the Iranian-born American has been on. Dariush’s unanimous-decision victory against Tony Ferguson in the co-main event on Sunday was comfortably the biggest of his career, and carried his win streak to seven – the tied-second longest active win streak in the division.
Much will be made of Ferguson’s dwindling powers, and rightly so, but Dariush deserves credit for his recent run. He not only defeated Ferguson, but totally dominated the former interim champion. That said, a title shot appears out for the rest of 2021, chiefly because of the guys ahead in the pecking order.
As well, Dariush announced post-win on Sunday that, with his wife about to give birth to their firstborn, he will take off the rest of the year. Now unbeaten in more than three years, he has vaulted to No 3 in the contender rankings.
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Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
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
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
The specs
Price, base: Dh228,000 / Dh232,000 (est)
Engine: 5.7-litre Hemi V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 552Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.5L / 100km
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
