Alexander Volkanovski is targeting the winner of the lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi as he sets his sights on becoming a two-division UFC champion.
The featherweight belt-holder, for many the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport at present, is seeking to move up to 155lbs having earlier this month dominated regular 145lb-rival Max Holloway at UFC 276. The unanimous decision victory, a fourth successive title defence, lifted Volkanovski’s professional win streak to 22, leaving him looking to lightweight for his next challenge.
The Australian will therefore be paying close attention to the UFC’s return to Abu Dhabi in three months, after the promotion confirmed on Saturday that Oliveira and Makhachev will top the card at UFC 280 in a clash for the vacant lightweight title. The event takes place at Etihad Arena on October 22.
Speaking to The MMA Hour late on Monday, Volkanovski said he wanted a lightweight title shot early next year as he recovers from a broken hand sustained against Holloway.
Asked who he expected to win between Oliveira and Makhachev in Abu Dhabi, he replied: “At the end of the day I just want the belt. I think the better fight is definitely Charles Oliveira. He’s got so much hype on him now.
"Look at how exciting he is, we know it’s going to be an exciting fight. There’s a reason why he’s exciting to watch. Obviously, I have a lot of respect for him, but I think a lot of people miss the fact that he takes damage. He loses a good portion of these big, exciting fights – that’s why they’re exciting.
"But yeah, it’s very fun. A lot of people are hyping him up, and I want big fights. I think Charles is definitely a bigger fight. But if Islam has that title, I’ll fight Islam. It doesn’t matter who it is. I’ll do whatever.
"They both have different challenges and big challenges. That’s what excites me too. A nice big challenge. Because, again, I love it when people doubt me, I love being the underdog. It might be a while since I’m an underdog in my division, but moving up there’s going to be a lot of people thinking it can’t be done. And I’m going to show them it can.”
Meanwhile, Volkanovski said he has no problem if the UFC make a bout for an interim title at featherweight while he recovers from his hand surgery. Top contenders Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett appear the most obvious candidates for that fight.
“To be honest, I don’t mind the idea while I’m sitting here [injured],” Volkanovski said. “Let them fight for that No 1 contender, because they both deserve it. They’re both in a position where they could get a shot.
"Are they screaming out where it needs to be them before everyone? No, not really. So let them fight for that No 1 contender. If it’s for the interim belt and then we’ll fight, sweet. Because like I told you, I’m not lying when I say I want to be active. They can go do that, I’ll go do my thing, and I’m telling you, a couple months after that, get me back in there, I’ll do it.
“Perfect world for me, lightweight title early next year, and then if they do this interim thing, if that happens, it will just make for a bigger fight anyway, so I don’t mind."
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Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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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.”
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The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
More from our neighbourhood series:
