Khabib Nurmagomedov says he’s “ready for war” as he continues preparations for his lightweight unification bout against Justin Gaethje in Abu Dhabi later this month.
The undefeated champion, whose record stands at 28-0, takes on the interim title-holder in the headline clash at UFC 254 in Yas Island on October 24. The event brings to a close a second Fight Island series in the capital.
Nurmagomedov, 32, has not fought in 13 months, when he defeated Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 – that encounter was also staged in Abu Dhabi – and has been training in Dubai since last month.
On Tuesday, the Dagestan native posted on his social media accounts a video of his camp, with the caption “Ready for war”.
For many, Gaethje represents Nurmagomedov’s sternest challenge to date, after the powerful American set up the unification fight by dominating Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in May.
Nurmagomedov had originally been slated to face his long-time foe, but had to withdraw amid travel restrictions put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Gaethje, 31, earned a TKO in the fifth round in Jacksonville, Florida, taking his mixed martial arts record to 22-2 and inflicting Ferguson’s first defeat in eight years – a period spanning 13 fights.
Nurmagomedov-Gaethje tops the bill at UFC 254, the fifth and final event on “Return to Fight Island”. The main card features six bouts, including the match-up between lead middleweight contenders Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier, for the first time since UFC 190 in August 2015.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
WORLD CUP SQUAD
Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep
More from Neighbourhood Watch
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
