UFC president Dana White has reiterated that he will not censor his fighters, in response to the controversy caused by Colby Covington last Sunday.
The American welterweight hit the headlines once more for comments made in the aftermath of his victory against Tyron Woodley in Las Vegas, when he became involved in a heated verbal exchange with current champion Kamaru Usman during an ESPN broadcast.
Covington made disparaging remarks about Usman’s ethnicity, asking the Nigerian-born athlete if he was getting “smoke signals” from his “tribe”. Later, at the post-event press conference, Covington disparaged both Woodley and the Black Lives Matter movement.
This week, in the build-up to UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi - the opening event of Return to Fight Island - a number of black UFC fighters condemned Covington for what they perceived to be racist remarks. Reebok, the UFC's apparel sponsor, issued a statement on Wednesday distancing themselves from Covington's comments.
When put to him on Thursday at a press conference on Yas Beach if he considered clamping down on fighters for comments made, White said: “That’s the 10th time you guys have asked me this ... We don’t muzzle anybody here. We let everybody speak their mind."
Asked if the UFC opposes racism, White replied: “Yeah, of course. Come on. I’m not going to play these games with you guys. Come on. If it’s racist? Would I … yes. Of course."
Looking ahead to the upcoming Fight Island 2, which kicks off on Sunday and comprises four more events up to an including UFC 254 on October 24, White confirmed new sensation Khamzat Chimaev won't be competing in Abu Dhabi this time around.
The Chechnya-born fighter, the UFC’s fastest-rising star, told American outlet TMZ on Wednesday that he was ready and raring to compete on Yas Island should White give him a call.
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Chimaev in Abu Dhabi for Fight Island 1
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Chimaev, 26, made history during the inaugural series in the capital in July, winning twice in 10 days - his first two appearances in the UFC. He added a third win last weekend, defeating the vastly experienced Gerald Meerscheart in 17 seconds on his US debut.
Chimaev is already slated to take on Brazilian Demian Maia in Las Vegas after Fight Island.
On whether Chimaev would be competing before his clash with Maia, White said: “No. He’ll fight in Vegas.”
Earlier on Thursday, Chimaev posted on social media that he had agreed a deal with the UFC to headline an event in the near future, with a five-round contest booked, despite the fact as of yet no opponent has been signed.
While White confirmed the bout, he did not comment on Chimaev’s potential rival, only to say it would be a ranked fighter.
Speaking following that hugely impressive victory last Sunday, White said of Chimaev: “The guy’s special. I’ve been in this game my whole life, I’ve never seen anything like him. He’s special. He’s different. This guy is one of the most special fighters I’ve ever seen, if not the most special I’ve ever come across.”
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 4 (Salah (pen 4, 33', & pen 88', Van Dijk (20')
Leeds United 3 (Harrison 12', Bamford 30', Klich 66')
Man of the match Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
More from Neighbourhood Watch
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Results
3pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m, Winner: Lancienegaboulevard, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Fawzi Nass (trainer).
3.35pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m, Winner: Al Mukhtar Star, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
4.10pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: Gundogdu, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Speedy Move, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar.
5.20pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Moqarrar, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy.
5.55pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Dolman, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Premier League results
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
Sunday
Watford 2 Leicester City 1
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: Yas Xmnsor, Sean Kirrane (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Falaj Hazza – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Arim W’Rsan, Dane O’Neill, Jaci Wickham
6pm: Al Basrah – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Kalifano De Ghazal, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Oud Al Touba – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Pharitz Oubai, Sean Kirrane, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: Sieh bin Amaar – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Oxord, Richard Mullen, Abdalla Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: AF Ramz, Sean Kirrane, Khalifa Al Neyadi
8pm: Al Saad – Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Sea Skimmer, Gabriele Malune, Kareem Ramadan
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
