On Sunday, the UFC serves up a truly formidable card, with three title fights and a host of other intriguing bouts taking place at UFC 259. Here are four very valid reasons to tune into the Las Vegas event.
Israel Adesanya eyes “champ champ” status
Only four fighters have done it: hold two UFC belts simultaneously. Already the middleweight champion, Adesanya looks to join Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo on a pretty lofty list.
The unbeaten Nigeria-born New Zealander, who last fought in September in Abu Dhabi when he inflicted Paulo Costa’s first professional defeat, is 20-0.
However, instead of seeking to consolidate his superiority in that division, Adesanya has jumped up immediately to try to claim another crown. The sturdy Jan Blachowicz stands in his way, another to prevail in the UAE capital last year, when he knocked out Dominick Reyes to secure the vacant light-heavyweight title. Intriguingly, Adesanya begins as heavy favourite, although can the UFC’s next transcendent superstar handle the Polish power should it land?
New mother Nunes adding to “Goat” legacy
On the surface at least, this looks a straightforward victory for Nunes. The Brazilian is comfortably the UFC’s greatest female athlete of all time, a current two-division champion who rides an 11-fight win streak. In Megan Anderson, Nunes defends her featherweight title against a fighter with two defeats in her past five outings, albeit the Australian has most recently reeled off two first-rounds wins.
More broadly, the division is in danger of fading out, with only five fighters on its roster. However, this represents Nunes’ first bout since becoming a mother in September, which adds an altogether different layer of intrigue to the contest. Has parenthood mellowed Nunes in any way? How has it impacted her preparations and, subsequently, will it her performance? Anderson will need any chinks in the armour whatsoever to pull off a hefty shock.
Aljamain Sterling making up for lost time
This was the title fight everyone expected in July. Henry Cejudo had retired two months previously, with Petr Yan and Sterling at the front of the queue for the vacant bantamweight belt. Yet the UFC instead booked Yan against Jose Aldo, that despite the Brazilian’s two defeats at bantamweight.
Yan duly obliged, triumphing in style at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi. Finally, though, Sterling gets his title shot, and the highly skilled American coming into the tussle on a five-fight win streak – including June’s stunning first-round victory against Cory Sandhagen. Sterling is a joy to watch, exciting and explosive. In Yan, he faces a guy unbeaten in 10 fights and five years. His pro record stands at 15-1. Champion against No 1-ranked contender: a thrillingly competitive clash is anticipated.
Islam Makhachev focuses on lightweight
It’s hard to believe Makachev hasn’t fought since September 2019, when he defeated Davi Ramos at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi. The Russian, who trains alongside lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, was supposed to compete three times since, but each bout fell through. It seems, though, that absence has only exacerbated the clamour to see Makachev return to action. He has lost once in 19 pro bouts, winning his past six. He has been talked up - as you would expect - by his respected coach Javier Mendez, who tips Makachev to become the next lightweight champion. With Nurmagomedov expected to stay retired and vacate, there’s a lot of contenders ahead in the pecking order. Yet shine against Drew Dober on Sunday, and the climb towards gold will accelerate.
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BIG SPENDERS
Premier League clubs spent £230 million (Dh1.15 billion) on January transfers, the second-highest total for the mid-season window, the Sports Business Group at Deloitte said in a report.
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,200 metres
Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Younis Kalbani (trainer)
5.30pm: UAE Arabian Derby (PA) | Prestige | Dh150,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Octave, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 (PA) | Group 3 Dh300,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Harrab, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Ali
6.30pm: Emirates Championship (PA) | Group 1 | Dh1million | 2,200m
Winner: BF Mughader, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (TB) | Group 3 | Dh380,000 | 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) | Conditions | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF La’Asae, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
Anna and the Apocalypse
Director: John McPhail
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton
Three stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
