Justin Gaethje captured the UFC interim lightweight title at UFC 249, then waved away the belt and called for a fight with undisputed champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Gaethje stepped in on just one month's notice to replace Nurmagomedov against former interim champion Tony Ferguson at the twice-rearranged event, which took place behind closed doors at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
The event carried additional significance, with it being the first major sporting event in the United States since the country launched quarantine and social distancing measures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But the lack of fans in the stands certainly didn't affect action inside the octagon, as the fighters put on a thrilling night that will live long in the memory.
The biggest winner of the night was undoubtedly Gaethje, whose reputation as a wild brawler with a "live by the sword, die by the sword" approach to his fights aptly matched his fighting moniker, "The Highlight".
But despite facing a fellow crowd pleaser in Ferguson, Gaethje didn't come out all guns blazing as seen in the past. Instead, he methodically, carefully yet still spectacularly, broke down Ferguson with a seemingly non-stop barrage of heavy punches mixed in with leg kicks, as he dominated much of the contest.
"I haven’t had time to soak it in. I can’t wait to watch the fight, I was so good tonight," Gaethje said in the post-event press conference. "I truly just believed in my skills and in my coaches and what a great time I just had.
"It was a great challenge and I’m very happy right now, I can’t wait to go home and see my family. I know how much happiness I just brought to people and that feels great.
"This is what I was born to do. You get one life and I’m living a crazy one and it’s so awesome. I can’t wait for that challenge, win or lose, I’m going to give it 100 per cent."
There was a brief scare in the final seconds of the second round, when he was dropped by a massive Ferguson uppercut as the buzzer sounded, but that slip-up aside, Gaethje delivered the finest performance of his career to capture his first UFC title.
Eventually, the sheer volume of strikes proved too much in the fifth round for a bloodied, battered Ferguson, who backed away shaking his head after a stiff Gaethje jab to the face. Referee Herb Dean immediately stepped in and waved off the contest, and Gaethje was declared the new interim champion.
But rather than celebrate with the belt, Gaethje waved away his new possession, telling UFC commentator Joe Rogan he was waiting for "the real thing". He then went on to state his intention to challenge Nurmagomedov for the undisputed title later this year.
"Khabib is the best in the world," he said. "I've been working since I was four for challenges like this, and I'm happy to represent the United States of America against Dagestan, or Russia's best. He's 28-0, and there's no other challenge I want right now. I want to fight him."
'Triple C' retains title, announces retirement
In the night's co-main event, Henry Cejudo defended his UFC bantamweight title by claiming a second round stoppage win over two-time former champion Dominick Cruz, then announced his retirement from MMA.
Despite conceding a significant height and reach advantage to Cruz, Cejudo used a solid gameplan, utilising a host of leg kicks, to slow the constant movement of the former champion before finding a home for his hands as the round progressed.
Cruz, who was returning to action after three and a half years away from the cage, looked in remarkably good shape as he stayed mobile and connected with some solid shots on the counter.
An accidental clash of heads left Cejudo opened up, but the cut wasn't in a problematic spot and the champion was able to continue without fuss
When the action restarted, Cejudo connected perfectly with a huge knee that dropped Cruz to the seat of his pants. It was the moment the champion had waited for, and he swarmed the challenger and unloaded a barrage of strikes to force referee Keith Petersen to step in and wave off the contest with just two seconds left in the round.
"I'm a chameleon, I can adjust. We stuck to the gameplan, and that's all she wrote," Cejudo said. "I"m ruthless. I may be cringey, corny, but boy can I fight. I am the greatest combat sports athlete of all time."
Cejudo then announced his decision to retire from the sport.
"I'm retiring tonight," he told commentator Joe Rogan. "I'm 33 years old, I'm happy with my career. Uncle Dana, I want say thank you for everything, you're the man. Everybody here, thank you so much. 'Triple C's' out. You guys don't have to hear [from me] no more."
Ngannou sends a terrifying statement
There were also potential title implications in the last non-title fight of the night, as heavyweight wrecking machine Francis Ngannou obliterated the previously unbeaten knockout artist Jairzinho Rozenstruik in just 20 seconds of their de-facto title eliminator.
Rozenstruik had called for a fight with Ngannou, but was knocked cold by a huge left hand in Ngannou's first punching combination of the fight. It left no doubt over the identity of the man who is next in line to fight for the heavyweight title once champion Stipe Miocic and former two-weight champion Daniel Cormier settle their world title trilogy later this year.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
SHAITTAN
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Kanye%20West
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Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
GAC GS8 Specs
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Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Hoffenheim (11.30pm)
Saturday
Hertha Berlin v RB Leipzig (6.30pm)
Schalke v Fortuna Dusseldof (6.30pm)
Mainz v Union Berlin (6.30pm)
Paderborn v Augsburg (6.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (9.30pm)
Sunday
Borussia Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen (4.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)
SC Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (9on)
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
The Abu Dhabi Awards explained:
What are the awards? They honour anyone who has made a contribution to life in Abu Dhabi.
Are they open to only Emiratis? The awards are open to anyone, regardless of age or nationality, living anywhere in the world.
When do nominations close? The process concludes on December 31.
How do I nominate someone? Through the website.
When is the ceremony? The awards event will take place early next year.
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Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)
