Moroccan Ottman Azaitar is set to compete on the upcoming Fight Island series in Abu Dhabi, following another spectacular victory at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Sunday morning.
The unbeaten lightweight, 30, took only 93 seconds to defeat American Khama Worthy by TKO in the co-main event at the Apex, finishing his opponent with a flurry of punches.
It took Azaitar to two wins from two in the UFC – he triumphed on debut at last year's UFC 242, also in Abu Dhabi – while his overall professional record now stands at 13-0.
Twelve of those successes have come via finishes, including nine knockouts. Worthy, meanwhile, had won his past seven fights.
Asked post-event about Azaitar turning around almost immediately to compete on Fight Island, which is scheduled in Abu Dhabi for September 27-October 24, UFC president Dana White said: "He is."
On whether his next opponent was already confirmed, White said: “No. We’re good, but we’re not that good.”
A former Brave lightweight champion, Azaitar had to wait more than a year between his two UFC bouts. In September last year, he knocked out Finn Teemu Packalen in the first round to receive Performance of the Night. Azaitar picked up the same bonus on Sunday for the display against Worthy.
“I would say I appreciated this fight more because the UFC gave us the opportunity to be the co-main event and they put such a big trust in us,” Azaitar said. “I won’t say I wanted from the beginning a knockout, but at least to give people what they want to see: fights, smashes, blood… we have to be exciting for the people.
“You can make any fight much safer if you just score points, take care and don’t take risks, but we have to take risks. If you don’t take risks, you might win the fight, but you don’t win people’s hearts. That’s what makes a difference.”
On when he will return to the octagon, Azaitar said: “I’m ready anytime. I didn’t get injured in this fight. I said this also before this fight. If everything goes well and I’m not injured, then it’s a matter of my brother and manager to decide it. He tells me what’s going on next and we make it. I’m open to everything.”
In an interview with The National last week, Azaitar was asked about competing on Fight Island should he get past Worthy, and responded: "I make always step-by-step. I finish this step, and everything goes good, no injuries, and yes I'm open for any next opportunity of chance to get back into cage. Wherever it is."
While not yet confirmed by local organsiers, Fight Island is slated to open on September 27 with UFC 253 and conclude with UFC 254 on October 24. There will be five events in all.
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Photos from Ottman Azaitar's win at UFC 242
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.”
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
SPECS
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
