Khabib Nurmagomedov says he had no issues making weight for his unification title bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, maintaining he is ready for “five rounds of war” come Saturday night.
The undefeated lightweight champion, whose professional record stands at 27-0, skipped the event’s official media day on Thursday, leading to concerns he was struggling to come in at 155 pounds ahead of Friday morning’s weigh-in. Nurmagomedov landed right on the button, although he did look incredibly relieved to have done so.
However, speaking to the media following Friday’s ceremonial weigh-in at The Arena - the newly constructed venue for UFC 242 - the Russian knocked back suggestions his weight was ever a concern.
“It was my best weight cut,” Nurmagomedov said. “I just focused on the weight cut because sometimes the media day takes too much energy. Because I need energy for training after media day and today morning I needed energy for training.
“Media day takes your energy like crazy. You guys don’t maybe understand this, but I know this feeling.”
With Saturday’s headline bout against interim champion Poirier officially on, attention turned to how Nurmagomedov would deal with the added pressure that comes with being viewed as the face of the event.
UFC 242 marks the first installment in a five-year partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the promotion’s return to the capital following a five-year hiatus, while Nurmagomedov represents comfortably the main attraction this week.
At Friday’s weigh-in, he entered the stage to a cacophony of noise. On fight night, he will be joined by a large number of family and friends, including having his father in his corner for the first time in UFC.
Yet Nurmagomedov played down any additional tension, saying: “If you’re a fighter always you’re going to feel pressure. Of course, [Dustin] has pressure, I have pressure. It doesn’t matter - tomorrow, when the cage closes, I’m going to fight. Like I always do. This is the easiest part in the sport: go to the cage and fight. This is what I do all my life.
“What’s the difference between champions and just fighters? You can control your pressure, emotions. I can control this. I showed this many, many times. Right now, I have pressure, too. Look at these cameras. But it doesn’t matter: tomorrow when the cage closes, the pressure is finished. I’m going to just fight.”
Asked about the threat posed by Poirier (25-5-1) across the five-round, 25-minute clash, Nurmagomedov said: “Dustin is a tough guy; he has big experience. His last fight he showed he can fight five rounds, but I don’t know how he’s going to feel after my pressure.
“I’m focused on the fight, on five rounds. I can’t be thinking ‘Oh, second round or third round, I’m going to finish him’. I’m focused on five rounds of war.”
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In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
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Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
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Boyd Tonkin, Galileo Press
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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
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Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
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Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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Rating: 3/5
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The specs: 2018 Peugeot 5008
Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900
Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
The biog
Name: Atheja Ali Busaibah
Date of birth: 15 November, 1951
Favourite books: Ihsan Abdel Quddous books, such as “The Sun will Never Set”
Hobbies: Reading and writing poetry
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Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Results
2pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: Mouheeb, Tom Marquand (jockey), Nicholas Bachalard (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Honourable Justice, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dark Silver, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Dark Of Night. Antonio Fresu, Al Muhairi.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Habah, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5