Javier Mendez says UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi represents the “perfect time to shine” for Islam Makhachev, with his highly rated pupil backed to secure the lightweight title against Charles Oliveira and then primed to dominate the division.
Makhachev, the No 4-ranked contender at 155 lbs, takes on recent champion Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt in the headline bout at Etihad Arena on Saturday night.
Mendez, Makhachev’s long-time coach, has spent the past month in Dubai with the Dagestani athlete, retired former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and team, and says that preparations for the biggest bout of Makhachev’s career are going “fantastic”.
“He’s on track; mentally, physically, body’s healthy,” Mendez told The National. “Everything’s going great, sparring’s going good for him. Morale, everything. It’s perfect time for Islam to shine and take over Khabib’s legacy as UFC lightweight champion.
"Islam is 100 per cent focused and he’s ready for this challenge because he hasn’t gotten the belt yet and he still needs to get it. Once he gets it more improvements are going to come; he’s going to get sharper, tighter in his game. The more you fight at a high level - five-round, championship-calibre type of performance - the better you’re going to get.
“As long as you don’t take damage and you keep improving step-by-step. I’ve never seen a champion get worst once they win the title; I’ve seen them get better. And that’ll be the case with Islam also.”
Makhachev, 31, has been beaten once in 23 professional MMA fights, and comes into Saturday’s contest having won his past 10.
Oliveira, though, rides an 11-fight win streak, with his most recent victory coming against Justin Gaethje in May – one day after he had been stripped of the title for narrowly missing weight.
Still, Makhachev is considered the favourite heading into Saturday’s clash.
“It’s a step up in challenge, for sure, because Charles is the champion,” Mendez said. “We consider him the true champion.
“But I don’t see it as a huge step up in reference to who Islam was going to fight: Beneil [Dariush], [Dustin] Poirier, Justin Gaethje. Those three are the same to me. They’re interchangeable.
“And Charles has beaten two of those. At the same time, Charles had to get up from the ground to do it too. So he took some damage in the process of beating those individuals.
“But I don’t think it’s taken its toll on Charles. Charles is in his prime and he’s out to prove that he’s the best. When the champion is being talked about as high as he has - they’re regarding him in the pound-for-pound ranking - and yet Islam is the favourite, it doesn’t sit well with the champion... ‘I’m the champion and I'm being made me the underdog?’ He has something to prove.”
Mendez, however, said he is not surprised Makhachev has been installed as favourite for what is his first UFC title bout.
“Because outside of a couple fights, mishaps - one he was really sick but still got the decision, and the other one [in 2015] he got knocked out when he made the wrong judgement - he's been flawless,” Mendez said. “That's why people were making him their favourite, because they watch what he's done.
“Charles hasn't been flawless. He's been fantastic the way he gets back up from adversity. You got to give it to the man: most people would be done, but not this guy.
“He’s resilient, he comes back from struggling, takes care of them. He's an incredible fighter. No ifs or buts about that.”
Mendez, founder of American Kickboxing Academy, was integral to Nurmagomedov’s Hall of Fame career, and was in his corner as the Dagestan native claimed UFC gold and climbed to 13-0 in the promotion before retiring undefeated, at 29-0, in Abu Dhabi in late 2020.
Understandably, Mendez says the confidence in Makhachev stems from having watched him grow as a fighter since he began working with Team Khabib.
“It’s well placed because of how well I know him,” Mendez said. “I said recently and I back my statement: Islam’s the most well-rounded lightweight fighter in the history of the UFC.
“Someone can tell me who's better. Who's better on the ground? Who’s better in stand-up? Who’s better at submissions? Who's better at throws? If you can give me somebody, give it.
“Because he's the best I've ever seen as far as arsenal. He’s got the best arsenal out of anybody I've ever seen in the lightweight division.”
On Saturday, Makhachev is sure to enjoy the majority of support inside Etihad Arena. A regular visitor to the UAE, he has described the Emirates as his second home, while he has fought, and won, twice already in the capital.
Mendez said the “home” crowd can provide extra motivation, but that Makhachev must not be distracted by it.
Asked how Makhachev, who will also have Nurmagomedov in his corner, would cope with the pressure to perform, Mendez said: “By relaxing, stay focused on the fight at hand. That's how he handles it. Just stay relaxed. You have a fight to win - go out and get it done.
“And he’s got his training partner, his mentor, his brother, in Khabib who's been with him for ever. Islam has been there for Khabib all the way through all those championship fights, been his main sparring partner. And Khabib’s doing the same to him.
“So having that connection and Khabib being exactly like his father [Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov] in the coaching. It's a great thing for him to go into this fight having Khabib there in his corner. Khabib plays a huge role in this fight and will be a big influence on Islam."
Mendez says he has prepared Makhachev for a five-round encounter - as he would usually for any of his fighters - but expects him to secure the crown on Saturday and then go plough through the lightweight division.
“You never know what's going to happen, how many times he’s going to want to defend it,” Mendez said. “He may do three, four, five times and move into business like Khabib.
“It's hard to say. I see Islam winning the title, him getting better, him defending the title, and I see him go through the division, which is what he’s going to need to do. That's what all champions do: they go through the division.”
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
Company%C2%A0profile
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The%20stats%20and%20facts
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Fixtures (all times UAE)
Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)
Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
Company%20profile
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Abu Dhabi Card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,400m
National selection: AF Mohanak
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 1,400m
National selection: Jayide Al Boraq
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 100,000 1,400m
National selection: Rocket Power
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh 180,000 1,600m
National selection: Ihtesham
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,600m
National selection: Noof KB
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 2.200m
National selection: EL Faust
MATCH INFO
New Zealand 176-8 (20 ovs)
England 155 (19.5 ovs)
New Zealand win by 21 runs
GRAN%20TURISMO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Neill%20Blomkamp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Harbour%2C%20Orlando%20Bloom%2C%20Archie%20Madekwe%2C%20Darren%20Barnet%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Meghan%20podcast
%3Cp%3EMeghan%20Markle%2C%20the%20wife%20of%20Prince%20Harry%2C%20launched%20her%20long-awaited%20podcast%20Tuesday%2C%20with%20tennis%20megastar%20Serena%20Williams%20as%20the%20first%20guest.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Duchess%20of%20Sussex%20said%20the%2012-part%20series%2C%20called%20%22Archetypes%2C%22%20--%20a%20play%20on%20the%20name%20of%20the%20couple's%20oldest%20child%2C%20Archie%20--%20would%20explore%20the%20female%20experience.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELast%20year%20the%20couple%20told%20Oprah%20Winfrey%20that%20life%20inside%20%22The%20Firm%22%20had%20been%20miserable%2C%20and%20that%20they%20had%20experienced%20racism.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20don't%20ever%20remember%20personally%20feeling%20the%20negative%20connotation%20behind%20the%20word%20ambitious%2C%20until%20I%20started%20dating%20my%20now-husband%2C%22%20she%20told%20the%20tennis%20champion.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The low down
Producers: Uniglobe Entertainment & Vision Films
Director: Namrata Singh Gujral
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Nargis Fakhri, Bo Derek, Candy Clark
Rating: 2/5