On Sunday, the UFC brings down the curtain on its inaugural Fight Island with UFC Fight Night 3 taking place in Abu Dhabi. Here’s the details.
What is it?
UFC Fight Night 3, the fourth and final event of the world's lead mixed martial arts organisation to be staged this month on Yas Island. It follows the hugely successful opening UFC 251 on July 12, and two other shows on July 16 and last Sunday. Fight Island was created by the UFC initially to allow its international athletes to compete during the coronavirus pandemic. Originally expected to be a one-off series, UFC president Dana White says the organisation will continue to host its international fighters in the capital.
When is it?
Sunday July 26, from 1am. Main card starts at 4am.
Where is it?
Flash Forum, which has been redesigned to stage the UFC this month. Because of the public health guidelines in place, the event takes place with no paying spectators in attendance. Flash Forum sits inside the UFC "safe zone", an 11-kilometre stretch open only to those connected with the running of Fight Island. The safe zone is said to house around 2,000 people.
Who is fighting?
The final roster is absolutely packed with talent, with 15 scheduled fights tying the record for most bouts on a single UFC card. Fight Night 3 is headlined by Robert Whittaker's eagerly anticipated clash with the dangerous Darren Till, in a middleweight match-up that pits against one another the former champion and a serious title contender.
Whittaker, the No 1-ranked challenger in the division, has not fought since losing his belt to Israel Adesanya last October, while Till proved a move up in weight class was no obstacle by defeating Kelvin Gastelum a month later. Whoever wins on Sunday is expected to get a title shot next.
In the co-main event, light-heavyweight luminaries Shogun Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira close out their famous trilogy with a third meeting – 15 years after the first. Former champion Rua is 2-0 up, with Nogueira confirming on Tuesday that this will be his final fight in the UFC.
Elsewhere on the card, Swede Alexander Gustafsson makes his long-awaited comeback by jumping up to the heavyweight division against former title-holder Fabricio Werdum, while former strawweight champion Carla Esparza attempts to inflict Marina Rodriguez’s first defeat.
And look out for the fast-rising Khamzat Chimaev, who’s seeking to set a record for fastest back-to-back UFC wins. The Swedish resident made his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 1 on July 16, dominating John Phillips at middleweight. He moves down to welterweight on Sunday to take on newcomer Rhys McKee.
Full fight card (subject to change):
Main Card
Robert Whittaker v Darren Till
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira v Mauricio Rua
Alexander Gustafsson v Fabricio Werdum
Carla Esparza v Marina Rodriguez
Gadzhimurad Antigulov v Paul Craig
Alex Oliveira v Peter Sobotta
Khamzat Chimaev v Rhys McKee
Preliminary card
Jai Herbert v Francisco Trinaldo
Nicolas Dalby v Jesse Ronson
Tom Aspinall v Jake Collier
Movsar Evloev v Mike Grundy
Tanner Boser v Raphael Pessoa
Bethe Correia v Pannie Kianzad
Ramazan Emeev v Niklas Stolze
John Castaneda v Nathaniel Wood
How to watch?
Fight fans in the UAE can catch the early action on Abu Dhabi Sports 2, with the main card available only through the UFC Arabia app.
Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
- Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
- Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
Avedis Hadjian, (IB Tauris)
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Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
GROUPS AND FIXTURES
Group A
UAE, Italy, Japan, Spain
Group B
Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Russia
Tuesday
4.15pm: Italy v Japan
5.30pm: Spain v UAE
6.45pm: Egypt v Russia
8pm: Iran v Mexico
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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