ABU DHABI // The absence of Gabrielle Garcia from the field has given rise to new hopes for those contesting the women's absolute class at the eighth Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
The nine-time Brazilian world champion who dominated the women’s heavyweight and open categories around the world has left jiu-jitsu to pursue a new challenge in mixed martial arts (MMA).
Garcia, who stands 1.88m tall and weighs over 90 kilogram, is already a hit on the MMA circuit, winning both her fights, against Lei D’Tapa by TKO last December and Anna Mulyikova with a submission arm-bar on Sunday.
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However, before her switch, Garcia’s reign in Abu Dhabi ended in a shock semi-final defeat at the hands of a cheery little American called Mackenzie Dern 12 months ago.
Dern, at 1.60m and under 59kg, stunned the jiu-jitsu world with her victory via penalty point. She is back to defend her title and is the favourite to retain her crown.
“How I won the title was what mattered,” she said. “Gaby was the only absolute champion that they had, unlike in the men’s event.
“Life has definitely changed and everyone has started to see me differently. Of course, people believe in me and everyone was like, ‘she showed what jiu-jitsu is all about and even small people can win against a bigger person’.
“Gaby dominated the absolute class and that could demotivate many. Of course, everyone liked her but they also thought she will not lose.
“Now everyone is so excited to fight in the absolute class.
“So everything has changed and the entire jiu-jitsu community has a different vibe because everyone believe they got an opportunity to win.”
Dern, 23, has remained undefeated since her victory over Garcia although a rematch never took place.
The American is set to follow Garcia into MMA in the near future but has no plans to completely give up jiu-jitsu.
“I will be making my MMA debut on July 22, but for me I’m still not done with jiu-jitsu. I still want to accomplish more on the mat,” she said.
“I’m ready to make the transition as I have a couple of months more. The hardest part is to train jiu-jitsu and balance both. However, I’m enjoying it as it is a new challenge.
“For me, one world title is not enough. I want more. I want to prove I’m the best and that can only happen when I win against different people in different competitions.”
Dern will compete at the IBJJF World Championship in California in June before her debut in MMA.
“Already I have spent the first part of the year on jiu-jitsu,” she said.
“The second part of the year will be on MMA. I don’t know what’s around the corner in 2017.
“I would expect people to respect me a lot when I get into MMA. However, I think when the girls will see my name in the list they will know everything I have done in jiu-jitsu.
“I will have the jiu-jitsu community supporting me in the MMA transition. So I feel I’m not alone. Everyone wants me to do well. MMA is little bit more girlie; I like heals and dresses.
“The MMA community gives that feeling more that girls can do that punching and fighting.”
Speaking on her title defence of the absolute class in Abu Dhabi, Dern thinks anyone can win it in the absence of Garcia.
“I think we are all on even ground now,” she said.
“I think the heavier girls will be the hardest to beat but the title can go to anyone.”
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
