The UFC has returned to Abu Dhabi, with its second Fight Island series getting under way this Sunday and featuring one of the most eagerly anticipated fights of the year. Here’s the details.
What is it?
UFC 253, the latest pay-per-view instalment in the world's lead mixed martial arts promotion. The event is the first of five on Fight Island 2, the UFC's second residency in the capital. It follows on from this summer's hugely successful inaugural run.
While July featured four events, opened by UFC 251, this will comprise five, and is bookended by two pay-per-view shows: UFC 253 and UFC 254. The Fight Island concept was created in response to the coronavirus crisis, allowing the UFC’s international athletes to compete during the pandemic.
The promotion has a strong relationship with Abu Dhabi, underlined by a five-year agreement signed last year between the two parties.
When is it?
September 27. The early prelims kick off at 3am UAE time, the prelims at 4am, and main card at 6am.
Where is it?
Once more, Fight Island will be housed in a designated “safe zone” on Yas Island. The zone is open only to fighters, coaches, UFC staff and other personnel deemed necessary to the operation. For the inaugural series, all events took place at Flash Forum. In accordance with public health guidelines, no fans will be allowed to attend the events.
Who is fighting?
Israel Adesanya's middleweight title defence against Paulo Costa, the No 2-ranked challenger, headlines. Both men are undefeated, with 19-0 and 13-0 records, respectively. It marks only the second time in UFC history, and the first time since 2009, that two undefeated men will go head-to-head for a belt. Dana White, the promotion's president, has tipped this clash to be fight of the year.
The card’s second title fight features Dominick Reyes (12-1) and Jan Blachowicz (26-8) contesting the vacant light heavyweight crown following Jon Jones’ decision last month to relinquish it.
Elsewhere, the popular Zubaira Tukhugov (19-4-1) returns to the octagon for the first time since February, when he recorded his first victory in three fights to take his UFC record to 4-1-1.
The Russian, a training partner and friend of lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, faces in-form Hakeem Dawodu (11-1-1), who rides a four-fight winning streak after losing on UFC debut.
Full Card *subject to change
Main
Israel Adesanya v Paulo Costa (middleweight title fight)
Dominick Reyes v Jan Blachowicz (light heavyweight title fight)
Kai Kara France v Brandon Royval (flyweight)
Ketlen Vieira v Sijara Eubanks (bantamweight)
Hakeem Dawodu v Zubaira Tukhugov (featherweight)
Prelims
Brad Riddell v Alex da Silva (lightweight)
Diego Sanchez v Jake Matthews (welterweight)
Shane Young v Nate Landwehr (featherweight)
William Knight v Aleksa Camur (light heavyweight)
Early Prelims
Juan Espino v Jeff Hughes (heavyweight)
Khadis Ibragimov v Danilo Marques (light heavyweight)
How to watch in UAE
Fight fans can watch all the action through the UFC Arabia app, while AD Sports TV will provide prelims coverage.
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Yas Island's transformation for Fight Island 1
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
'Young girls thinking of big ideas'
Words come easy for aspiring writer Afra Al Muhairb. The business side of books, on the other hand, is entirely foreign to the 16-year-old Emirati. So, she followed her father’s advice and enroled in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s summer entrepreneurship course at Abu Dhabi University hoping to pick up a few new skills.
“Most of us have this dream of opening a business,” said Afra, referring to her peers are “young girls thinking of big ideas.”
In the three-week class, pupils are challenged to come up with a business and develop an operational and marketing plan to support their idea. But, the learning goes far beyond sales and branding, said teacher Sonia Elhaj.
“It’s not only about starting up a business, it’s all the meta skills that goes with it -- building self confidence, communication,” said Ms Elhaj. “It’s a way to coach them and to harness ideas and to allow them to be creative. They are really hungry to do this and be heard. They are so happy to be actually doing something, to be engaged in creating something new, not only sitting and listening and getting new information and new knowledge. Now they are applying that knowledge.”
Afra’s team decided to focus their business idea on a restaurant modelled after the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Each level would have a different international cuisine and all the meat would be halal. The pupils thought of this after discussing a common problem they face when travelling abroad.
“Sometimes we find the struggle of finding halal food, so we just eat fish and cheese, so it’s hard for us to spend 20 days with fish and cheese,” said Afra. “So we made this tower so every person who comes – from Africa, from America – they will find the right food to eat.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
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If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
