The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi this week for its third Fight Island series, which concludes with Conor McGregor’s eagerly anticipated comeback. Here are the details.
What is it?
Fight Island 3 - "Triple Header Week" - featuring three events in nine days, which opens the UFC's 2021 calendar. Fight Island was created by the UFC primarily to allow its international athletes to compete during the pandemic. There have been two residencies thus far in the capital: a four-event run in July, and a five-show series that straddled September and October. Both were resounding successes for the promotion.
However, in a break from those two runs, spectators will be able to attend all three events this month – the first time the UFC has staged shows with a live audience since last March. Limited tickets went on sale on Friday.
When is it? (All times UAE)
January 16 - Fight Night: Holloway v Kattar. Doors open 6:30pm, with prelims starting 9pm. Main card begins midnight (Jan 17).
January 20 - Fight Night: Chiesa v Magny. Doors open 3:30pm, with prelims starting 6pm. Main card begins at 9pm.
January 24 - UFC 257. Doors open 12:30am, with early prelims starting 3am and the prelims at 5am. Main card begins at 7am.
Where is it?
Unlike past series, the UFC will be hosted at Etihad Arena on Yas Island – marking the first time the new venue has held events. The previous two residencies took place behind closed doors at Flash Forum, which was housed inside a “safe zone bubble”. This time, UFC personnel, athletes and coaches, and everyone connected to the running of Fight Island (media, resort employees, etc) will stay within the bubble.
Who is fighting?
Full cards for all three events have not yet been confirmed. However, the three headline acts are set: the first Fight Night sees former featherweight champion Max Holloway take on fast-rising Calvin Kattar. Holloway, the division’s No 1-ranked contender, has not competed since Fight Island 1 in July, when he lost for a second time on points to champion Alexander Volkanovski. Kattar, the 6th-ranked challenger, fought too in Abu Dhabi, defeating Dan Ige on points.
Fight Night 2 is topped by an intriguing welterweight battle between Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny. Originally planned as a co-main event, it pits against one another two fighters enjoying three-bout winning streaks.
The series culminates with UFC 257, the first pay-per-view event of the year. It is headlined by McGregor's return to the octagon for the first time in more than a year, when the former two-division champion takes on Dustin Poirier in a rematch of their 2014 clash. McGregor, one of the biggest draws in sport, prevailed then by first-round TKO. Poirier has competed in Abu Dhabi before, in the lightweight unification bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, while McGregor makes his UAE debut.
There are a number of interesting match-ups at UFC 257, including Michael Chandler's long-awaited promotional debut. The three-time Bellator lightweight champion takes on the dangerous Dan Hooker, whose most recent appearance – a points defeat to Poirier in June – was a 2020 Fight of the Year contender.
How to attend
Tickets for the three events can be found at www.etihadarena.ae and www.ticketmaster.ae. Prices begin at Dh595 for the two Fight Nights. However, such has been the demand for UFC 257, that at present individual tickets are unavailable. Ticket packages - combining UFC 257 with the two other events - remain.
Covid protocols
A wide range of Covid protocols are in place for attending fans, including presenting a negative PCR test, valid from 48 hours out from the event. Organisers have stressed that all security and Covid-19 checks will take up to an hour before entry, so fans are requested to plan their trip accordingly.
How to watch
Fight fans in the UAE can catch the action through the UFC Arabia app. Limited coverage can be found also on Abu Dhabi Sports.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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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
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
PRIMERA LIGA FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (3pm)
Alaves v Real Madrid (6.15pm)
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (8.30pm)
Girona v Barcelona (10.45pm)
Sunday
Espanyol v Deportivo la Coruna (2pm)
Getafe v Villarreal (6.15pm)
Eibar v Celta Vigo (8.30pm)
Las Palmas v Leganes (8.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Valencia (10.45pm)
Monday
Real Betis v Levante (11.pm)
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Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
