Tony Ferguson return decided while UFC president Dana White says: 'We’ll go back to Fight Island' in Abu Dhabi

Tony Ferguson’s return to the octagon has already been lined up, with UFC president Dana White all but confirming it will be against Dustin Poirier.

The American, 36, has not fought since his comprehensive defeat in his lightweight interim title clash with Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 in May.

Ferguson left the bout heavily bloodied and bruised following a fifth-round stoppage – a loss that ended emphatically his 12-fight win streak that stretched back eight years.

Gaethje had been a late replacement for Khabib Nurmagomedov and will now take on the undefeated lightweight champion at UFC 254 on October 25. The fight is expected to take place in Abu Dhabi.

Despite the defeat to Gaethje, Ferguson remains one of the sport’s standout stars, and has been recently active on social media in teasing a comeback.

Asked following UFC on ESPN 15 on Sunday if Ferguson had a fight lined up with UFC, White said: “We do.”

Pushed if it was Poirier, he smiled before responding: “Probably.”

Poirier last fought in June, when he rebounded from last September’s unification title loss to Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi by claiming a unanimous decision victory against Dan Hooker.

At present, Poirier sits as the No 2-ranked challenger at lightweight, with Ferguson one slot behind. The winner of that encounter would then be in line to face whoever comes out on top in Nurmagomedov-Gaethje.

Although the location of that match-up is yet to be confirmed, it will most likely headline the UFC’s return to Abu Dhabi for a second Fight Island series, which could also feature UFC 253 on September 27. Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya’s title defence against Paulo Costa tops that event.

The inaugural Fight Island run took place on Yas Island last month and comprised four events, including the hugely successful UFC 251 that hosted three title fights.

When it was put to White again on Sunday if the UFC planned to return to capital, he replied: “We’ll go back to Fight Island. We’ll have some announcements soon. We’re just getting everything dialled in.”

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UFC 251: A great night in Abu Dhabi

Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

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Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans
Jasmin Mujanović, Hurst Publishers

More on Afghanistan

Con Coughlin: US-Taliban peace deal - what's the deal and where's the peace?

National Editorial: The US-Taliban peace deal is only the first step to peace

Ken Hedricks: The Afghan scorpion farmer harvesting valuable venom

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk

Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat