Dana White promises Gilbert Burns is next UFC welterweight challenger


John McAuley
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  • Arabic

Dana White has confirmed Gilbert Burns will take on UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman next, despite Jorge Masvidal calling for a rematch.

Masvidal stepped in for Burns on six days’ notice for the headline bout at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi last Sunday, the opening event in the four-show Fight Island. Burns, the No 1-ranked challenger, tested positive for Covid-19 before leaving Las Vegas for the Emirates, with Masvidal agreeing two days later to take his place.

Usman triumphed by unanimous decision to take his UFC record to 12-0 in a largely one-sided affair at Flash Forum. Yet Masvidal, who was contesting his first title match despite having 18 previous appearances in the promotion, has since said he is determined to land another clash with Usman - preferably before the end of the year.

However, speaking on Friday at the weigh-in to Sunday's UFC Fight Night 2 on Fight Island, White reiterated: “Gilbert’s next.”

The UFC president was full of praise for Mounir Lazzez, the Dubai resident who secured a win on his UFC debut at Fight Night 1 on Thursday. The Tunisian defeated Abdul Razak Alhassan by unanimous decision, with the bout earning a Fight of the Night bonus.

“When you have some local talent that does well, and not just does well." White said. "That kid was a [heavy] underdog and he went in there against a [expletive] beast and has a fight like the fight that they fought that night, it’s very good for the region.

“From what I’m told, that kid is very popular here, he’s got a lot of support in the region. The people who live here love that.”

Asked what he said to Lazzez outside the octagon immediately after the fight, White said: “I just went over and said congratulations. The story is just mind-boggling. I’m sure you heard the story, that I’m at my son’s birthday party and took a bunch of his friends to dinner. This kid is sitting next to me - Adam - is just terrorising me about this guy, because him and his family live out here.

“And he’s like ‘I’m telling you this guy is awesome, you need him, they love him in the area. And so I told him I’m going to do it. So I literally called [UFC matchmaker] Sean Shelby and told him to make the fight.

Dana White was full of praise for Mounir Lazzez, the Dubai resident who secured a win on his UFC debut at Fight Night 1 on Thursday. Chris Whiteoak/The National
Dana White was full of praise for Mounir Lazzez, the Dubai resident who secured a win on his UFC debut at Fight Night 1 on Thursday. Chris Whiteoak/The National

"We tell the story about a 17-year-old kid made this fight and then the first two seconds we’re like ‘Oh, [expletive]'. But it worked out.

“I might take another recommendation off him. That kid’s a rock star right now; he’s loving it. You go on his Instagram and it’s all about the fight and him making the fight. It was a cool story and the fight was unbelievable."

On whether the UFC could shift their August schedule from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi if the pandemic prompts Nevada to stop sport taking place there, White said: “I have some back-up plans. It’s not ideal; it’s not what I want to do. I want to stay in Vegas.

“Not only in Vegas, but in other parts of the world, other parts of the country, we can pull this off safely and not hurt anybody. And hopefully we have that opportunity to do that in our hometown, where it would be a lot safer for all of us. I hope that’s the case. We’ll see.

White added: “We’re going to do a lot of fights over here. If you look at how many international fights we do a year, we do those here in Abu Dhabi. But we have to so some of these fights in the States.

"Listen, we’re definitely coming back to Abu Dhabi, that’s guaranteed. When I came here everybody had this idea that this Fight Island thing was three or four fights and that was a wrap. That’s not true. We’re here to stay.

"As far as trying to find another venue outside the United States, it ain’t happening. Why would I go anywhere other than Abu Dhabi? Abu Dhabi might end up becoming the fight capital of the world - seriously. It’s definitely not Las Vegas right now.”

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Meydan race card

6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m

SPECS

Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman

Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 306hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500

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Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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Profile

Company name: Jaib

Started: January 2018

Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour

Based: Jordan

Sector: FinTech

Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018

Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups

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%3Cp%3EThe%20sixth%20sanctions%20package%20will%20also%20see%20European%20insurers%20banned%20from%20covering%20Russian%20shipping%2C%20more%20individuals%20added%20to%20the%20EU's%20sanctions%20list%20and%20Russia's%20Sberbank%20cut%20off%20from%20international%20payments%20system%20Swift.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
England squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale 

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse

Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

While you're here
Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

SPEC%20SHEET
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The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)

Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)

Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)

Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)

%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
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if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday (UAE kick-off times)

Atalanta v Juventus (6pm)

AC Milan v Napoli (9pm)

Torino v Inter Milan (11.45pm)

Sunday

Bologna v Parma (3.30pm)

Sassuolo v Lazio (6pm)

Roma v Brescia (6pm)

Verona v Fiorentina (6pm)

Sampdoria v Udinese (9pm)

Lecce v Cagliari (11.45pm)

Monday

SPAL v Genoa (11.45pm)

Brief scoreline:

Al Wahda 2

Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'

Al Nassr 3

Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'

Wednesday's results

Finland 3-0 Armenia
Faroes Islands 1-0 Malta
Sweden 1-1 Spain
Gibraltar 2-3 Georgia
Romania 1-1 Norway
Greece 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Liechtenstein 0-5 Italy
Switzerland 2-0 Rep of Ireland
Israel 3-1 Latvia

The biog:

Languages: Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, basic Russian 

Favourite food: Pizza 

Best food on the road: rice

Favourite colour: silver 

Favourite bike: Gold Wing, Honda

Favourite biking destination: Canada 

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Abu Dhabi traffic facts

Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road

The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.

Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.

The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.

The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.

Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019

 

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