Once more, Abu Dhabi played an integral role in the UFC’s success this year, hosting four fight nights, including two pay-per-view events. Here we look at the top five UFC moments in the capital for 2021.
Dustin Poirier knocks out Conor McGregor
The UFC’s first numbered event of the year featured the long-awaited return of McGregor, still the sport’s main attraction. The former two-division champion’s lightweight clash with Poirier headlined Fight Island’s UFC257 at the newly opened Etihad Arena, a rematch seven years in the making. Poirier stunned the limited – Covid-19 restrictions applied - but vocal crowd in the capital, flooring McGregor in the second round to win via TKO and even their series at 1-1. It represented the Irishman’s first knockout defeat of his professional career.
McGregor, who was making his comeback following more than a year out, fronted up to the media afterwards, saying: “I’ll take my licks. I’m gutted. I put so much work in. Well done Dustin, we’re one and one, good man. We’ll go again.” And that they did, at UFC 264 in Las Vegas in July. This time, Poirier prevailed after McGregor broke his leg when planting it seconds out from the end of the first round. He is now 1-3 in his past four UFC appearances.
Glover Teixeira turns back the clock against Jan Blachowicz
After nine months away, the UFC returned to Abu Dhabi in October with a UFC 267 featuring two title fights and a host of other intriguing bouts. However, the night at Etihad Arena undoubtedly belonged to Teixeira, who upset the odds by submitting light-heavyweight belt-holder Blachowicz in the second round to send the 10,000-plus crowd wild in celebration.
In winning, the Brazilian became the second-oldest first-time champion in UFC history. In fact, he had celebrated his 42nd birthday only days before in the capital. Teixeira had once previously fought for a title, losing out to Jon Jones seven years before. The new champ, hugely popular and with a Hollywood-worthy backstory, declared afterwards in reference to his pro career: “Twenty years baby. I’m breaking the rules, 42 years old. And I’m going to keep breaking the rules.”
Asked about the people who had written him off already, Teixeira replied: “Never give up on your dreams. No matter what people say, don’t listen to those negative people. Believe in yourself, keep going forward.”
Khamzat Chimaev comeback lives up to hype – and more
Even with the two title bouts – Petr Yan took on Cory Sandhagen for the interim bantamweight belt – much of the attention at UFC 267 fell upon Chimaev’s hugely anticipated return. The Chechen-born athlete had blazed a trail through his UFC debut in Abu Dhabi last year, then having raced to 3-0 in the promotion, contracted Covid-19 and spent 13 months away from the octagon. Chimaev was therefore arguably the star of the week leading up to his clash with China’s Li Jingliang at UFC 267, his deadpan one-liners and steely conviction dominating the headlines.
And, on fight night, Chimaev delivered - emphatically. First, he lifted the No 11th-ranked welterweight across the octagon towards Dana White, screaming at the UFC president to pay attention to his prowess. The contest was soon over, Chimaev submitting Li by rear-naked choke. A juggernaut was propelled once more. In four UFC bouts, Chimaev has landed 254 significant strikes, receiving only two in return. Upon victory, he screamed: “Everybody. I come here for everybody. Kill everybody. I’m the champ.”
Michael Chandler announces UFC arrival in style
Talk about making a statement introduction to the UFC. Chandler, a three-time Bellator lightweight champion, made the high-profile switch four months before to the world’s lead mixed martial arts promotion and was handed a dangerous first opponent, in Dan Hooker. The New Zealander had pieced together a three-fight win streak before losing his most recent bout, a Fight of the Year contender, to Poirier.
In the evening’s penultimate contest, Chandler knocked out Hooker with a flurry of punches two and a half minutes into the opening round, then backflipped off the top of the octagon. To round off his evening, he delivered an appropriately flashy promo, calling out soon-to-retire lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor and Poirier. “There's a new king in the lightweight division,” proclaimed Chandler, reeling off those three names. “God bless, see you at the top.” The American had arrived. He would indeed fight for the vacant lightweight crown months later – Nurmagomedov’s retirement had by then been confirmed - losing out to current champion Charles Oliveira.
Max Holloway declares he’s UFC’s best boxer – mid-fight
What a way to celebrate the official opening of Etihad Arena. Holloway’s bout with Calvin Kattar headlined UFC Fight Night, the first of three events across nine days in January in the third Fight Island series. Ranked the No 1 contender in the featherweight division, and keen to lay claim to a third bout with champion Alex Volkanovski, Holloway cruised to a unanimous decision, triumphing 50-43, 50-43, 50-42.
Dominating a talented Kattar throughout, the Hawaiian set various records, including significant strikes landed (445, previous 290) and significant strike attempts (744, previous 515). The high point, though, came late, when Holloway turned away from Kattar to yell to the broadcast team cage-side that he was the best boxer in the UFC – all the while dodging punches from Kattar. “I was having the time of my life, man,” said Holloway afterwards, labelling it the best performance of his 24-fight UFC career. The former champion then turned focus to Volkanovski, saying of the potential trilogy: “You know the saying: to be the best, you've got to beat the best. Bring them all."
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
england euro squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
