Belal Muhammad is aiming to take another significant step closer to fulfilling his dreams of becoming the UFC's first Arab champion when he faces Demian Maia on June 12.
Born in Chicago to Palestinian parents, Muhammad (18-3-1NC) enters his UFC 263 bout against the veteran Brazilian having lost just once in his past 10 fights. His most recent outing, in March, ended in a No Contest against Leon Edwards after he suffered an accidental eye poke during the second round.
Had Muhammad emerged victorious against the third-ranked welterweight, he would likely have thrust himself into title contention. Instead, he will have to keep plugging away for the time being.
The immediate task in his continued quest for the title comes against ninth-ranked Maia on the undercard of Israel Adesanya's middleweight title defence against Marvin Vettori at the Gila River Arena in Arizona.
Incidentally, Edwards also features on the card where he faces popular American Nate Diaz. Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo puts his title on the line against Brandon Moreno in the co-main event.
Maia (28-10) may be 11 years Muhammad's senior but he sits three places above the 32-year-old American in the welterweight standings, and Muhammad has prepared for the biggest challenge of his career so far.
"I'm excited. It's one of those big opportunities for me in one of the biggest cards of the year," he told The National. "I'm ready to go out there and stand out as the performer of the show.
"I have met him once before out of the cage and he’s such a nice guy. He’s one of those guys respected by all. He’s a legend of the game and been around for so long.”
Experience certainly favours Maia. The Brazilian made his UFC debut nearly 14 years ago, at UFC 77, and has twice fought for the title, once at middleweight and more recently at welterweight. Maia came up short in both bouts but went the distance with Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley respectively.
However, Maia has not competed in 15 months since his first round TKO defeat to compatriot Gilbert Burns.
While Maia has Muhammad's full respect, the veteran Brazilian is viewed as another obstacle on the American's path to ultimate glory.
“I just don’t want to be in the sport but want to be the best in the sport," Muhammad said. "I want to be the first Arab champion and show that Arabs can be champions and the best in the world.”
Compared to Maia, Muhammad is a relatively latecomer to MMA and had previously envisioned a career in the courtroom instead of the cage.
“I started slowly and then started to love the sport,” he said. “I use to watch boxing and other combat sports, and then started to learn about it. I always loved competitions.
“I tried my hands at wrestling and when I started winning, I wanted to see how far I could go. It eventually led me to MMA and here I am.
“During my schooldays, I wanted to be a lawyer. That was my initial plan. When I got the break in fighting, I thought I can always go back to my studies if I wasn’t successful. I was successful and am still in the game.”
While Muhammad's focus is squarely on the present and his title ambitions, he is planning to use all of his combat sports experience to assist the next generation when the time comes to hang up his gloves.
“I have four brothers and they are all entrepreneurs and I myself can start a business, hopefully,” he said.
“For me, it would be opening businesses like a gym and then start to broaden the horizons. I want to build businesses for my kids, their kids and so on. You can only do that when you are your own boss.”
Belal is also a champion of the Palestine cause and he carries the nation’s flag to every contest and proudly displays it in the cage.
“I do that for those who don’t have a voice,” he said. “The flag represents a group of people fighting for their rights.”
Middle East fans can catch UFC 263 live on the UFC Arabia app, UFC's first Arabic language streaming subscription service. UFC Arabia is available for download from the App Store and Google Play Store. Subscribers can also access it through smart TVs
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
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
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
MATCH INFO
Rajasthan Royals 158-8 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 143/7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals won by 15 runs
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Anna and the Apocalypse
Director: John McPhail
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton
Three stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
Hamilton’s 2017
Australia - 2nd; China - 1st; Bahrain - 2nd; Russia - 4th; Spain - 1st; Monaco - 7th; Canada - 1st; Azerbaijan - 5th; Austria - 4th; Britain - 1st; Hungary - 4th; Belgium - 1st; Italy - 1st; Singapore - 1st; Malaysia - 2nd; Japan - 1st; United States - 1st; Mexico - 9th
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
