UFC star Conor McGregor has hinted that his comeback fight against Dustin Poirier will be held in the UAE, if his recent social media activity is anything to go by.
McGregor, who last fought in January when he stopped Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds, will face Poirier in a rematch on January 23 having initially announced his retirement in July.
While the venue and location are yet to be confirmed, UFC president Dana White has previously said that the lightweight clash will be held on Fight Island "if everything goes to plan". There have been two Fight Island series so far, both in Abu Dhabi.
And McGregor has suggested that he is poised to take on Poirier in the UAE after the Irish former two-weight champion took to Twitter to retweet, and comment on, videos of UAE footballer Ali Saleh using his famous strut for a goal celebration.
After a video of Saleh's celebration was brought to his attention, McGregor commented: "See you soon". He then proceeded to retweet a series of posts from the Arabian Gulf League – the UAE's top-tier football league.
McGregor, who has won 22 of his 26 professional MMA fights and holds a 10-2 record in the UFC, fought Poirier in September 2014 at UFC 178 where he stopped the American with a first round TKO.
Poirier, meanwhile, is no stranger to the UAE having fought Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi. He was stopped by the lightweight champion via submission in the third round.
The proposed showdown on Fight Island will be the latest high-profile bout to take place as part of a series created in response to the coronavirus pandemic which allowed the UFC's international athletes a location to host fights.
The first Fight Island, in July, was headlined by UFC 251 and the welterweight title bout between champion Kamaru Usman and late call-up Jorge Masvidal, who stepped in last minute after Gilbert Burns tested positive for Covid-19.
Fight Island 2, held across September and October, began with Israel Adesanya's defence of his middleweight title against Paulo Costa at UFC 253 and concluded with UFC 254, where Nurmagomedov retained his lightweight belt with a submission win over Justin Gaethje on October 24. Nurmagomedov, whose father passed away this year, immediately and emotionally announced his retirement from inside the octagon.
Both Fight Island series so far have been held behind closed doors and within a bio-secure bubble on Yas Island. White has expressed his hope that spectators will be able to return in some capacity if and when the UFC returns to Abu Dhabi.
As it stands, there is yet to be any official confirmation from the UFC or local organisers regarding a third Fight Island series in Abu Dhabi.
Race card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m
9.25pm: Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
10.35pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm: Shahm, 7.05pm: Well Of Wisdom, 7.40pm: Lucius Tiberius, 8.15pm: Captain Von Trapp, 8.50pm: Secret Advisor, 9.25pm: George Villiers, 10pm: American Graffiti, 10.35pm: On The Warpath
Results
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mezmar, Adam McLean (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: AF Ajwad, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Gold Silver, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
4pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m; Winner: Atrash, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez.
4.30pm: Gulf Cup Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Momtaz, Saif Al Balushi, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Al Mushtashar, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
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Uefa Nations League: How it Works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Ferdous, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-3 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,400m
Winner: Basmah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6pm: UAE Arabian Derby Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 2,200m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Championship Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 2,200m
Winner: Somoud, Patrick Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Conditions (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Bairaq, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
