Zhang Weili targets winning back UFC title in Abu Dhabi as Joanna Jedrzejczyk retires

Zhang Weili has set sights on reclaiming her UFC strawweight title in Abu Dhabi later this year after sending Joanna Jedrzejczyk into retirement with an emphatic knockout at UFC 275 in Singapore on Sunday morning.

Zhang, who held the belt between 2019 and 2020, finished her opponent with a brutal spinning back-fist midway through the second round of a fight that was at the time living up to their initial Fight of the Year in 2020.

However, immediately after the bout at a sold-out Singapore Indoor Stadium, Jedrzejczyk took off her gloves inside the octagon and informed UFC analyst Daniel Cormier during the interview that she would be retiring.

"It's been 20 years," said Jedrzejczyk, who held the women’s strawweight title from 2015 to 2017, defending successfully a record five times. "I'm turning 35 this year. I want to be a mum. I want to be a businesswoman. I've been training more than half of my life. I love you guys."

Jedrzejczyk, the UFC’s first Poland-born champion, leaves the sport with a professional MMA record of 16-5.

Meanwhile, Zhang has quickly turned attention to reigning supreme at 115 lbs once more. The Chinese star, who had lost her past two bouts having built a stellar 21-fight win streak, is the division’s No 2-ranked contender, with only former champion Rose Namajunas and current belt-holder Carla Esparza above her in the standings.

Speaking to Cormier through an interpreter inside the octagon, Zhang said: “Carla Esparza, I heard there’s an event in Abu Dhabi, and I want to invite you to fight me in Abu Dhabi. It’s not your territory, it’s not my territory. Let’s be in Abu Dhabi and fight together.”

The world’s lead mixed martial arts promotion returns to the capital on October 22 with UFC 281. Until now, there have been no bouts confirmed for Etihad Arena.

In UFC 275's two championship bouts, Valentina Schevchenko retained her flyweight title with a split-decision victory against Taila Santos, while Jiri Prochazka defeated light-heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira by fifth-round submission in a Fight of the Year contender.

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Amount raised: $13m

Investors: KISP ventures, Cedar Mundi, Towell Holding International, Takamul Capital, Dividend Gate Capital, Nizar AlNusif Sons Holding, Arab Investment Company and Al Imtiaz Investment Group

The National's picks

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7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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Five films to watch

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Pari

Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment

Director: Prosit Roy

Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani

Three stars

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape

The bio

Who inspires you?

I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist

How do you relax?

Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.

What is favourite book?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times

What is your favourite Arabic film?

Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki

What is favourite English film?

Mamma Mia

Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?

If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.

The specs

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Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual

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David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

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.”

Ovo's tips to find extra heat

Open your curtains when it’s sunny
Keep your oven open after cooking
Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
Put on extra layers
Do a few star jumps
Avoid alcohol

Zhang Weili targets winning back UFC title in Abu Dhabi as Joanna Jedrzejczyk retires

Chinese star comes through long-awaited rematch with brilliant finish at packed stadium in Singapore

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