Islam Makhachev isn’t concerned about comparisons or loaded down by legacy.
All that occupies his mind, weeks out from conceivably the greatest challenge of his professional career to date, is becoming UFC lightweight champion in Abu Dhabi.
“I’m really, really excited because my dream is so close, you know?” Makhachev tells The National from his current Dubai base. “That moment is so close. Very soon I’m going to be champion.”
The No 4-ranked challenger at lightweight, Makhachev headlines UFC 280 at Etihad Arena on October 22, when he takes on former champion Charles Oliveira for the vacant belt.
Brazil's Oliveira resides as the division’s de facto champion. He is the most recent incumbent of the crown, and would still hold it had he not missed weight by half a pound in May, the day before his defence against Justin Gaethje.
While Makhachev rides an impressive 10-fight win streak, Oliveira's stunning triumph at UFC 274 extended his victory stretch to 11. Belt or not, he sits still at the head of the lightweight rankings, and No 3 in the UFC's men’s pound-for-pound standings.
The Brazilian, 33-8 in professional mixed martial arts, holds promotional records for most finishes (19) and submissions (16).
“Charles is very dangerous,” Makhachev says. “He always finishes his opponent, and he's dangerous in the striking and on the ground. But I believe in my skills. I’m ready for the fight standing up or on the ground - it doesn’t matter.”
Sitting in his hotel room in Dubai, between morning and night training sessions, Makhachev is characteristically composed. Confident, too.
“I don’t think this is the biggest test [of my career],” he says. “Maybe I beat some guy who has more skills. But, right now, he's the champion. And, right now, at this moment in his career, because he has a good win streak - he had many losses before - and he finished all his opponents, he feels like nobody can stop him.
“But, October 22, I’m going to come to the cage and stop him there.”
While Makhachev has steamrollered his past two opponents – he took little more than two minutes to submit Dan Hooker in October, in Abu Dhabi, and less than three and a half to knock out Bobby Green in February – Oliveira has had to come through serious adversity of late. He survived knockdowns against Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje to prevail in each.
Yet Makhachev, an expert wrestler and former world Sambo champion, is adamant he won’t let slip any chance to capitalise should it present itself.
“His last three or four opponents, they knock him down and nobody goes to grappling," he says. "Nobody tried to finish him there; nobody tried to do some ground and pound. That’s why nobody from these opponents could stop him.
“But I’m not scared of his jiu-jitsu skills, because I have good skills in Sambo and grappling and will give him a hard time in striking. That’s why I’m going to knock him down and try to finish him.
“Because this guy has most finishes in the UFC, my goal is I have to finish him. I’m going to take his record.”
That the fight takes place in Abu Dhabi is considered a major advantage in Makhachev's favour. The Dagestani, 31, has fought twice in the capital, first in the decision-victory against Davi Ramos in 2019, and most recently at UFC 267 last year.
A frequent visitor to the UAE, Makhachev has regularly held camps in Dubai, where he trains, as he does in the build-up to Oliveira, at Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex. Clearly, he has a strong affiliation to the country.
“Of course, I’m really happy because I’m going to fight in Abu Dhabi,” Makhachev says. “In this country, the people invite our team. It’s very good, they give us what we need. We have everything for a good training camp.
“All fans, all people can come to Abu Dhabi from Russia, because not many of my family or friends can come to the US or other countries. And I fight for the title, so many are going to come support me."
Makhachev, though, doesn't necessarily view Abu Dhabi as a trump card against Oliveira.
“Honestly, it doesn’t matter where,” he says. “Even if they give me the fight in Brazil, I’m going to approve and go there. Because it means nothing. When the cage is closed nobody is going to help you.”
Makhachev, 22-1 in pro MMA, dismisses the notion also that, come fight night, he will not only have to handle Oliveira, but the weight of expectation.
“It’s not going to be pressure because I know I’m training so hard, and I have people who support me and who push me so hard for this training camp,” he says. “And I believe in my skills. That’s why it’s nothing special; I have big experience in this sport.”
That experience is enhanced, no doubt, by the presence of Khabib Nurmagomedov by his side. The retired former lightweight champion, life-long friend, teammate and now coach, has been there and done it. Perhaps better than anyone else in the sport.
“It’s so important,” Makhachev says. “Because this guy knows all the rules, all the roads, and right now he pushes me. And I look at his whole career, how he’s training, how he cuts weight. He gives me big experience.
"Nobody has a corner like him. Nobody has some people close [by] who can offer support like him.”
Makhachev plays down recent comments from coach Javier Mendez that his long-time pupil is the most well-rounded lightweight of all-time – “we have many guys before, like Khabib, Frankie Edgar” – and shrugs off any questions about legacy. He prefers, instead, to focus solely on becoming champion.
The motivation is understandably high, helped somewhat by Chandler last week, when the former title challenger questioned Makhachev’s CV. Makhachev responded on social media by poking fun at Chandler’s UFC record, adding that he “please shut up and stay in line”.
“I just say the truth,” Makhachev says now. “Who he beat? Tony Ferguson? This guy, he has to retire. He beat Dan Hooker, who came from a loss, and then he fights for the title?
“The UFC just want to promote this guy. Right now, he’s in the top because he talks too much.”
It does, though, add fuel to Makhachev’s already formidable fire for October 22.
“Of course,” he says. “And people are going to understand. Whoever doesn’t believe, they’re going to understand, soon. You know, in some of my dreams, I take this belt and jump to the cage, because I never jumped to the cage, never sit on the cage.
"This is my dream. And, right now, I’m very close.”
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.”
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
TRAINING FOR TOKYO
A typical week's training for Sebastian, who is competing at the ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon on March 8-9:
- Four swim sessions (14km)
- Three bike sessions (200km)
- Four run sessions (45km)
- Two strength and conditioning session (two hours)
- One session therapy session at DISC Dubai
- Two-three hours of stretching and self-maintenance of the body
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
For more information go to www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.
LAST 16
SEEDS
Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Valencia, Juventus
PLUS
Real Madrid, Tottenham, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon, Chelsea
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
