For Amir Albazi, out of disappointment came delight.
The Iraqi-born athlete had sparkled on UFC debut during the inaugural Fight Island run in July, but has been made to wait some time for his return. Two booked bouts fell by the wayside. Neither was because of him.
In the second instance, Albazi had travelled from London to Las Vegas, the long hours logged in training, the big build-up embraced. Then his opponent, Zhalgas Zhumagulov, was denied entry into the United States, and Albazi was forced to again reschedule and recalibrate.
Never fear, though. As far as his UFC-competitive career goes, he’s now back where it all started. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
"When they told me they'd rescheduled my fight here on Fight Island I got super happy," Albazi tells The National, smile beaming. "It feels like home for me here.
"I fight for the Middle East, here in Abu Dhabi in the fight capital, so just feels great to be back. I love it here on Fight Island. I couldn't wait."
Sitting in the W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, not long from kicking off the card at UFC 257 at the nearby Etihad Arena on Sunday, the wait suddenly feels worth it. Still, it's been a longer-than-hoped road to return.
Albazi had prepared well for UFC outing No 2, and was understandably keen to get into the octagon again. To his credit, he dealt with the frustrations, resolving to turn those negatives into a positive.
And not only because he’s back in Abu Dhabi. Zhumagulov should probably take note.
"Zhalgas is just going to have it tougher this time," says Albazi, whose promotional bow concluded with a first-round submission of Malcolm Gordon. "I'm improving every day, so this time is going to be even better.
“Yeah, he’s a good opponent, he’s a test. But I don’t think anyone in that weight class can last with me. I’m ready to take on everyone. I’ve been watching all of them and I match up very good with them all.
“I don’t believe anyone has the type of jiu-jitsu I have. I know I can go in and finish all of them.”
_______________________
Albazi beats Gordon in Abu Dhabi, July 2020
_______________________
Albazi’s debut win came at bantamweight, but for Sunday he’s dropped down to flyweight. Settled at 125lbs, he believes he possesses the tenacity and the tools to thrive. If his July victory hinted of a 26-year-old with serious talent, even despite accepting the bout late on, the extended training since promises much.
“Last time you saw me was coming back from holiday and taking the fight on nine days’ notice,” Albazi says. “So you can only imagine now with several camps, not only one fight camp behind it.
“I just can’t wait to go in and perform on all levels. Not only on the ground, but stand-up, wrestling. I want to show people that there’s levels to this game.”
Albazi describes his "journey as crazy", but he's not referring to a backstory that includes fleeing war-torn Iraq aged seven, seeking refuge in Iraqi-Kurdistan and Syria and then Sweden, where he took up wrestling to protect himself. Eventually, he would go on to capture gold medals in Asian, European and world championships.
This time, “crazy” relates to how life has changed after debuting in the UFC.
“I’d never believe like, people not even contacting me, but people contacting people around me that they haven’t heard from them in years saying, ‘Yeah, I saw your friend on Fight Island’,” Albazi says.
“Even the guy that bullied me when I was young in Sweden messaged me. People I haven’t spoken with for 12 years message me.
“So many people, especially Arab kids messaging and telling me how I’m inspiring them to train and get into MMA. That just means the world to me.”
That support has sustained. In fact, it’s ramped up massively as UFC 257 crept closer.
“Already before even the fight I’m getting a mad amount,” Albazi says. “Not only from the Iraqi people, from all the Arab community, from London, from Sweden, so it feels great to perform for everyone.
“I want to perform for every immigrant that came with a similar story as me. Because I know it’s not only me that fled my country or other countries to try and strive for a better life.
“I know there’s a lot of people out there having it hard, so maybe if they can see me, if I can inspire just one or two people, that’s more than enough for me.”
Win on Sunday, get a ranked opponent next and move “slowly” towards a shot at a UFC title. That’s the immediate plan, although Albazi is careful not to look past Zhumagulov, himself with one UFC fight - a decision loss - behind him.
Focus, therefore, is key. Outside focus is elevated, too, since Albazi is competing on the UFC's first pay-per-view event of the year, a card headlined by Conor McGregor. The returning former two-division champion is a transcendent superstar who, like Albazi, sits on the roster of Paradigm Sports Management.
“To be honest, I always have myself in the centre,” Albazi says. “I see this as my own main event. I’m not super-excited to be on someone else’s card.
“I want to be that main event, I’m working towards that. It’s nice to be here having a big card to compete on because there’s more eyes on me, but it’s always going to be me – I’m the main event.”
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McGregor and Poirier make weight for UFC 257
_________________________
Who knows, all goes well on Sunday and he should move nearer the spotlight, perhaps to a third Fight Island appearance this summer. UFC president Dana White has already told The National he's targeting June or July for a return residency.
If Albazi delivers, he wants another Abu Dhabi showing.
“I would love to be back on Fight Island,” he says, looking straight down the barrel of the camera. “Dana, if he hears this, I want to be here. This is my fight capital.”
Company%20profile
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
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
Saudi Cup race day
Schedule in UAE time
5pm: Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (Turf), 5.35pm: 1351 Cup (T), 6.10pm: Longines Turf Handicap (T), 6.45pm: Obaiya Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians (Dirt), 7.30pm: Jockey Club Handicap (D), 8.10pm: Samba Saudi Derby (D), 8.50pm: Saudia Sprint (D), 9.40pm: Saudi Cup (D)
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Generational responses to the pandemic
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Brief scores:
Manchester United 4
Young 13', Mata 28', Lukaku 42', Rashford 82'
Fulham 1
Kamara 67' (pen),
Red card: Anguissa (68')
Man of the match: Juan Mata (Man Utd)
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Tour de France Stage 16:
165km run from Le Puy-en-Velay to Romans-sur-Isère
Checks continue
A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
MATCH INFO
New Zealand 176-8 (20 ovs)
England 155 (19.5 ovs)
New Zealand win by 21 runs
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
SECRET%20INVASION
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Januzaj's club record
Manchester United 50 appearances, 5 goals
Borussia Dortmund (loan) 6 appearances, 0 goals
Sunderland (loan) 25 appearances, 0 goals
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
SPECS
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Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Europe wide
Some of French groups are threatening Friday to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up with drivers from other countries on Monday.
Belgian authorities joined French police in banning the threatened blockade. A similar lorry cavalcade was planned for Friday in Vienna but cancelled after authorities prohibited it.
