Jose Aldo says the UAE can help the Middle East develop a future UFC champion given the country’s investment in mixed martial arts.
The Brazilian great is currently in Abu Dhabi as he gets set to face Petr Yan for the vacant bantamweight title at UFC 251 on Sunday – the opening event at the inaugural Fight Island. Shows follow on July 16, 19 and 26.
A black belt in jiu-jitsu, Aldo praised the UAE’s commitment to the sport, which has become hugely popular in the Emirates, particularly in the past decade.
“It’ll take some time before they have a champion,” the former featherweight champion said. “They’re investing in the grassroots and getting kids into jiu-jitsu, getting them trained from a young age. Then you can bet you will find a champion from here.
“There is no formula for this, this is normal. They are already doing the right thing investing, especially in the next generations, so you can be sure to have a champion in the next generation.”
Aldo's clash with Yan is one of three title fights at UFC 251, with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski taking on Max Holloway in a rematch of their December clash, while welterweight champion Kamaru Usman defends his belt against long-time foe Jorge Masvidal.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 qualifying, 10:15am
Formula 2, practice 11:30am
Formula 1, first practice, 1pm
GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm
Formula 1 second practice, 5pm
Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm
The biog
Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly
Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo
Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.
Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,
She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.
Profile Box
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
Based: Manama, Bahrain
Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($100,000)
Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
UAE%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Aryan%20Lakra%2C%20Ashwanth%20Valthapa%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20CP%20Rizwaan%2C%20Hazrat%20Billal%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%20and%20Zawar%20Farid.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
