UFC chief Lawrence Epstein lauds Abu Dhabi’s Fight Island as ‘second to none’

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a definite highlight of the event. (FILE/AFP)
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Updated 02 October 2020
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UFC chief Lawrence Epstein lauds Abu Dhabi’s Fight Island as ‘second to none’

  • Sunday sees the first of the three fight Nights that will lead up to UFC 254 on Oct. 24
  • Fight Island 1 was the first international event to host athletes from around the world in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic

DUBAI: Fight Island 2 promised to go bigger, and the promises are already being kept. 

Now, only a week after UFC 253 kicked off the five-event series on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, Laurence Epstein, COO of UFC, is already looking ahead for one stacked fight card after another over the next four weekends.

Starting with the first Fight Night on Sunday.

“I was really excited about UFC 253 and it delivered,” Epstein told Arab News from his base in Abu Dhabi. “It was an incredible card, but we’ve got a great card this weekend, headlined by Holly Holm and that’s going to be a super exciting fight. And obviously how could you not be excited about Khabib (Nurmagomedov) and Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Brian Ortega and Korean Zombie (Chan Sung Jung), that’s a fight you got to be excited about. Two totally different styles, who’s going to win that one?”

“Dana (White, President of UFC) and the matchmakers have done an incredible job of putting on these incredible fights and that’s why our brand has continued to grow during these challenging COVID-19 times. We continue to put on high-quality events that are exciting, and that fans want to see. That’s absolutely the case for every single card here in Abu Dhabi.”

The latest series comes after July’s Fight Island 1 and last year’s UFC 242 took place in Abu Dhabi and captured the imagination of fight fans in the Middle East and around the world. Fight Island 2 kicked off with UFC 253 on Sept. 27, and after three Fight Nights on Oct. 4, 11 and 18 will conclude with UFC 254 on Oct. 24. 

But Epstein is keen to point out that UFC’s relationship with the UAE capital goes back a lot longer than 2019.

“The relationship between UFC and Abu Dhabi goes back over a decade now,” he said. “The fact that we did Fight Island 1 and 2 is a result of this long-standing and really positive relationship that we have here in Abu Dhabi. We are in the middle of year two of a five-year event relationship and of course we have a content distribution deal with UFC Arabia.”

Fight Island 1 was the first international event to host athletes from around the world in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, but extensive testing procedures and logistical measures on Yas Island have, according to Epstein, raised the bar in terms of organization of sporting events during this uncertain period.

“It was incredible,” he said. “We’re still living in a delicate time, and though we’ve gotten better with every single event we’ve done, we still have a lot of logistics and things to deal with. The great thing about Yas Island and what we’ve done with Fight Island is that the facilities, and the testing capabilities, and the coordination with the authorities here have really been second to none.”

“We’re staying in a first-class hotel, get tremendous restaurants, and lots of great things to do for everybody while we’re here. And we’ve obviously got incredible facilities to put on our events. With the partnership we’ve got with G42, we’ve got a testing regiment that really is second to none anywhere in the world.”

“Whether it’s fight Island 1 or Fight Island 2, we’re living in tough and challenging times, but the good news is Abu Dhabi has got not just the infrastructure, but the services to make these events incredible, and of course safe,” he added.

Fight Island 1, which took place from July 12 to 26, and included UFC 251 and three Fight Nights, was a huge success, and played a major part in encouraging the organizers to go even bigger this time around. The fighters, and their teams, have been on board from day one.

“There were still lots of logistical challenges, like moving people from around the world to Abu Dhabi,” said Epstein. “But I can tell you this, the word got out quickly how great Abu Dhabi is as a host, and how incredible the facilities were, and of course the safety protocols and the incredible hospitality that we get here. Nobody is saying they don’t want to come here. Everybody is excited to come to Abu Dhabi and fight and enjoy everything it has to offer.”

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, UFC has held events in Jacksonville, Florida, its home in Las Vegas and on Yas Island, and Epstein believes Abu Dhabi has edged ahead of the rest of the world in terms of facilities and organization.

“The infrastructure that we have here in Abu Dhabi is really unmatched in the world of sport,” he said. “You have an island which you can control ingress and egress very easily, you have staff that have been quarantining for two weeks before everyone gets here. They are tested on a regular basis. The testing facilities that you have here with G42 are also amazing. You have massive capacity when it comes to testing, results turn around very, very quickly which is really important and we have a team of people administering these tests who are obviously very experienced and doing a great job.”

UFC, and MMA in general, have long been popular in this part of the world, and the recent rise in events taking place here have only raised the profile of the sport further.

“We got some great fans in the Middle East, and that fanbase continues to grow,” Epstein said. Here in Abu Dhabi, Jiu-Jitsu has a long history and everybody seems to be interested in it at school level and beyond. Viewing for content continues to grow around the world but also in the Middle East and we’re really proud and excited about the new relationship that we have with Abu Dhabi Media, which is distributing our content throughout the region, generating lots of new interesting content that is specifically created for this market. We’re really confident that the sport will continue to grow, the fanbase is going to continue to grow, and we’re looking forward to more athletes coming from this region.”

Tunisian fighter Mounir “The Sniper” Lazzez, was one of Fight Island 1’s standout performers, and will be back to fight David Zawada on Fight Night 3 on Oct. 18. Epstein believes more fighters from the Middle East and Arab nations will emerge in the coming years.

“We’re already seeing it with so many other athletes from around the world that are connected to the Middle East in some way,” he said. “That is just going to continue to grow. There will be more and more athletes that are from the region that are going to climb the ranks of UFC. There is no doubt we will continue to have great fighters and ultimate champions from the region.”


Govt. minister says England should play Afghanistan, despite growing calls for boycott amid women’s rights concerns

Updated 10 January 2025
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Govt. minister says England should play Afghanistan, despite growing calls for boycott amid women’s rights concerns

  • The ICC’s policy requires nations granted Test-playing status, which Afghanistan was given in 2017, to support women’s cricket

LONDON: World cricket’s governing body is coming under increasing scrutiny for its stance on Afghanistan’s inclusion in the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament, despite the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights and sports participation.

The International Cricket Council has so far resisted calls to ban Afghanistan’s men’s team or press the Taliban regime to uphold its own rules surrounding the establishment of a women’s cricket team, citing a strategy to influence change through engagement.

The ICC’s policy requires nations granted Test-playing status, which Afghanistan was given in 2017, to support women’s cricket.

However, Afghanistan was accepted as a full member without an already functional women’s cricket program, citing religious and cultural reasons.

Despite efforts by the Afghanistan Cricket Board to establish a women’s team in 2020 “adhering to the traditional Afghan and Islamic values,” the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021 halted progress, with women and girls increasingly banned from sports and public life since.

More than 160 British MPs and peers have recently called for the England and Wales Cricket Board to boycott their match against Afghanistan, set to be played next month in Pakistan, Sky News reported.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to commit to such action, but said: “The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in touch with our international counterparts on this issue. I welcome the England and Wales Cricket Board making strong representations to the International Cricket Council on Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team.”

South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has also supported calls for a boycott, but Cricket South Africa has deferred to the ICC, emphasizing adherence to tournament regulations.

However, British Culture and Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy has rejected the idea of a boycott, stating that such actions could penalize athletes and alienate fans.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Nandy said: “I’m instinctively cautious about boycotts in sports. I think they deny sports fans the opportunity that they love, and they can also very much penalize the athletes and the sports people who work very, very hard to reach the top of their game and then they’re denied the opportunities to compete.

“They are not the people that we want to penalize for the appalling actions of the Taliban against women and girls,” she added.

Instead, Nandy pointed to diplomatic measures to bring about change, highlighting past UK efforts to withhold symbolic support at sporting events, such as avoiding dignitary attendance at the Winter Olympics in China.

“When China hosted the Winter Olympics, I was very vocal, many of us were very vocal about making sure that we didn’t send dignitaries to that event, that we didn’t give them the PR coup that they were looking for when they were forcibly incarcerating the Uighurs in Xinjiang,” she said.

The ICC has reiterated its commitment to engaging with Afghanistan to foster inclusivity in cricket.

“The ICC remains closely engaged with the situation in Afghanistan and continues to collaborate with our members,” a spokesperson told Sky News.

“We are committed to leveraging our influence constructively to support the Afghanistan Cricket Board in fostering cricket development and ensuring playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan.

“The ICC has established an Afghanistan Cricket Task Force, chaired by deputy chairman Mr. Imran Khwaja, who will lead the ongoing dialogue on this matter,” they added.

However, the ICC’s approach has drawn sharp criticism from Afghan women’s rights activists.

Khalida Popal, former captain of Afghanistan’s women’s football team, expressed disappointment in the governing bodies’ lack of action.

“The governing bodies have failed to stand by their own policies. There’s clear gender discrimination in sport, and they’ve ignored the women of Afghanistan,” she told Sky News.

England’s match against Afghanistan remains scheduled, and the ICC continues to engage with the ACB. But the Champions Trophy, set to take place next month, has become a focal point for global scrutiny of Afghanistan’s policies and the ICC’s role in upholding its principles.


28 Group 1 winners nominated for Saudi Cup 2025

Updated 10 January 2025
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28 Group 1 winners nominated for Saudi Cup 2025

  • Laurel River, Sierra Leone and Romantic Warrior on course to clash in world’s most valuable race next month

RIYADH: A strong entry of 28 Group 1 winners have been put forward for this year’s Group 1 $20 million Saudi Cup, which will take place at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 22.

The winner of last year’s Dubai World Cup, Laurel River (USA), could face Breeders’ Cup Classic victor Sierra Leone (USA) along with three-time Hong Kong Cup winner Romantic Warrior (IRE), 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (USA), and last year’s Saudi Cup champion, Senor Buscador (USA). 

Other notable runners that could feature in the 1,800m contest are last year’s Saudi Derby winner Forever Young (JPN), 2024 Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile (JPN), Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint star Soul Of An Angel (USA) and five-time Argentine Group 1 winner El Kodigo (ARG).

Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al-Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “On behalf of everyone at the JCSA, I would like to extend my thanks to owners and trainers from around the world for their nominations for the 2025 Saudi Cup meeting. We are proud to be top of mind for the trainers of the world’s best from more than 20 countries, including so many that have won at the highest level.”

Including the feature race, the two-day Saudi Cup meeting has attracted 1,123 entries — comprising 81 individual Group 1 winners — from a total of 21 countries, all set to fight it out for the $38.1m prize money on offer across Saudi Cup weekend on Feb. 21-22.

Japanese-trained Warp Speed (JPN), runner-up in the Melbourne Cup on his last start, holds an entry for the newly upgraded Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap and could be joined in the field by the UK-trained Al Nayyir (GB), who finished fourth in the 2024 renewal of the race, and Continuous (JPN), the 2023 St Leger winner.

Sir Alex Ferguson-owned Spirit Dancer (GB) has been given the chance to defend his crown in the Group 2 Neom Turf Cup and could line up alongside Japan Cup runner-up Shin Emperor (FR) and Danon Beluga (JPN), while dual Group 1 winners Measured Time (GB) and Al-Riffa (FR) could represent the UAE and Ireland respectively.

The Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint entries are headed by last year’s winner Annaf (IRE) and 2024 Prix Maurice de Gheest victor Lazzat (FR), with Japanese Group 1 winners Ten Happy Rose (JPN) and Ascoli Piceno (JPN) also entered.

Remake (JPN) is set to bid for consecutive wins in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint, which will be run as a Group 2 for the first time. Other notable entrants include Golden Shaheen winner Tuz (USA) and Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner, Straight No Chaser (USA).

Last year’s Group 3 Saudi Derby saw a Japanese victor in Forever Young (JPN), and another Japanese horse tops the entries in the unbeaten Myriad Love (JPN), while Getaway Car (USA) for the USA, Al Qudra (IRE) and Argentine G1 winner Giustino (ARG) are also entered.

As well as thoroughbred action on Saudi Cup night, there is also the Group 1 Obaiya Arabian Classic for purebred Arabians, where 2022 race winner Hadi De Carrere (FR) holds an entry along with the exciting unbeaten HM Alchahine (FR). Saturday’s card also features the Saudi International Handicap, which has attracted horses trained in eight countries.

Feb. 21, the day before Saudi Cup night, features the Group 1 Al-Mneefah Cup for purebred Arabians, which has attracted a strong entry including seven-time PA Group 1 winner Abbes (FR) and Nour Al-Maury (FR), also a seven-time PA Group 1 winner, who could be joined by 2022 race winner First Classs (USA) and recent President Cup winner Heros De Lagarde (FR).

Local-bred champion Asfan Al-Khalediah (KSA), who won the Al-Mneefah Cup in 2023 before going on to land the Obaiya Arabian Classic last year, holds entries in both races. His stablemate, 2024 Dubai Kahayla Classic winner Tilal Al-Khalediah (KSA), is also double-entered.

The Friday program will also feature the International Jockeys Championship, with seven male and seven female jockeys from around the world participating.

Prince Bandar said: “Horse racing thrives on international competition, and we believe the Saudi Cup is the perfect event to showcase the best of global racing. The Saudi Cup itself is the pinnacle of our racing season and in a few short years has become a truly global race. This year’s renewal looks perhaps the strongest yet.

“Horse racing and celebrating the brilliance of both the thoroughbred and purebred Arabian are at the heart of traditional culture in Saudi Arabia, and events such as the Saudi Cup play a big role in engaging the local community in all aspects of the sport. As we continually improve our offering, through race upgrades and further investment, the Kingdom continues to grow as a destination for horse racing, both domestically and internationally.

“We look forward to welcoming all connections to King Abdulaziz Racecourse next month for what promises to be another unforgettable Saudi Cup meeting.”


Amorim keen to keep hold of Mainoo, Garnacho

Updated 10 January 2025
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Amorim keen to keep hold of Mainoo, Garnacho

  • “I really love my players. I want to keep my players, especially the talented ones,” Amorim said
  • “It’s a special moment in this club, it’s a hard moment, but, of course, I’m really happy with Kobbie, he’s improving, and also with Garna“

MACNEHSTER: Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has expressed his desire to keep talented youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho despite rumors the duo could be sold to ease the club’s financial pressures.
United sit 13th in the Premier League and have won only four of Amorim’s 12 games in charge so far.
The club’s ability to hand the former Sporting Lisbon coach, who took charge in November, significant funds to rebuild in the transfer market is limited by profit and sustainability rules.
United lost £113.2 million ($139 million) in the financial year to June 2024 — their fifth straight year in the red.
As academy graduates, any fee received for Mainoo or Garnacho would appear on the books as 100 percent profit.
Reports this week said United were therefore open to offers for the pair, as well as a number of other recently acquired signings such as Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte and Matthijs de Ligt.
“I really love my players. I want to keep my players, especially the talented ones,” Amorim said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup trip to Arsenal.
“It’s a special moment in this club, it’s a hard moment, but, of course, I’m really happy with Kobbie, he’s improving, and also with Garna.”
Amorim has previously admitted United’s recruitment must be better and he stressed the need to also improve the club’s academy to help save money in the transfer market.
“When we are targeting players, we need to be sure that they will cope with the demands,” he added.
“I also said we have to improve our academy, to bring young kids that fills the club in the right way, and also with that rules, we are able to do some business and have some money to invest in the team.
“Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players that we build for this club.
“We know the position that the club is in at the moment, but we will see. I’m very happy, I like our players, especially the guys from our academy.”
Another United academy graduate — Marcus Rashford — does seem set to leave Old Trafford this month.
The 27-year-old reportedly held talks with AC Milan this week, with other European clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, also interested.
Rashford has not featured in United’s last six games and Amorim refused to be drawn on whether he could return at the Emirates.
The Portuguese coach did confirm that second string goalkeeper Altay Bayindir will feature ahead of Andre Onana despite his errors in a 4-3 League Cup quarter-final exit to Tottenham last month.


Habib is 1st Lebanese player in Open era to play in a Grand Slam men’s singles draw

Updated 10 January 2025
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Habib is 1st Lebanese player in Open era to play in a Grand Slam men’s singles draw

  • He advanced through three rounds of the qualifying at Melbourne Park, winning his third match in a tiebreaker 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8) over Clement Chidekh of France
  • The 26-year-old Habib was born in Houston, Texas and moved to Lebanon as a young child, learning how to play there

MELBOURNE: Hady Habib isn’t likely to find anything too daunting at the Australian Open now that he’s become the first Lebanese player in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam men’s singles draw.
He advanced through three rounds of the qualifying at Melbourne Park, winning his third match in a tiebreaker 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8) over Clement Chidekh of France on Thursday to secure a place in the main draw of the tournament that starts Sunday.
It continued a rapid rise for Habib, who made his Olympic debut last year in Paris, running into eventual silver medalist Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time major winner, in the first round. It was two sets he’ll long remember.

Late last year, he made history at Temuco, Chile by becoming the first ATP Challenger Tour champion from Lebanon.
The 26-year-old Habib was born in Houston, Texas and moved to Lebanon as a young child, learning how to play there. He returned to the US to pursue a pro career and feels now like he’s representing of the spirit of Lebanese people.
“I know it’s just a sport, but I feel like representing Lebanon and sacrificing all the things I had to do to get here, it kind of resembles how our nation has fought back,” Habib told Australia’s SBS News this week.
His personal success has come at a difficult time during the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
A fragile ceasefire deal was struck on Nov. 27 following nearly 14 months of war.
Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023 — the day after Hamas launched a deadly attack into Israel that ignited the ongoing war in Gaza. Subsequent Israeli air and ground assaults have killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians. At the height of the war, more than 1 million Lebanese people were displaced.
“Every morning, I was waking up during that challenging time, I was contacting all my family members, my friends, making sure they’re okay,” Habib told SBS News. “My heart’s just shattered to see what’s happening to our country and people.
“It was a hard time mentally for me, knowing that you can’t do anything to help, but I’m glad things are calming down now. Hopefully we’ll find some peace.”
The 219th-ranked Habib’s first-round opponent was determined Friday — it will be 65th-ranked Bu Yunchaokete of China.


Newcastle boss Howe eager to hang onto goalkeeper Dubravka

Updated 10 January 2025
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Newcastle boss Howe eager to hang onto goalkeeper Dubravka

  • Newcastle manager Eddie Howe still hopes goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will stay at St. James’ Park beyond the end of the January transfer window

LONDON: Newcastle manager Eddie Howe still hopes goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will stay at St. James’ Park beyond the end of the January transfer window.
The in-form 35-year-old Slovakia international has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab as he enters the final six months of his contract with the Magpies.
Dubravka has conceded just two goals in seven games in all competitions — all of them victories — while deputising for the injured Nick Pope during a run where Newcastle are closing in on a place in the English League Cup final and are fifth in the Premier League table.
“Martin’s been in a difficult situation,” Howe said Friday.
“Like any player that is coming out of contract in the summer, with every player that I’ve ever worked with, there’s always that feeling of doubt.
“He will naturally want some conclusion to his future, whether that’s a new contract with us, whatever the outcome. But he’s certainly played very well and I’ve been really pleased with him.
“He’s more than played his part in our recent run of fixtures. Again against Arsenal (a 2-0 win in the first leg of a League Cup semifinal), I thought he was very, very good, so hopefully we can come to some sort of agreement with him.”
Dubravka was seen to be in tears following the conclusion of Tuesday’s game against Arsenal, in what many observers interpreted as a farewell to Newcastle.
He was signed by former Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez, initially on loan, in January 2018, but has largely been a back-up to England international Pope for the last two-and-a-half years, a period which included a loan spell at Manchester United.
But he has shown his value in recent weeks with Howe, who must decide whether or not to rest Dubravka for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie against fourth-tier Bromley, saying: “I know how much Newcastle means to him and you can see that emotionally, he’s very invested.
“Of course, all those things will be playing a part in his decision-making and our decision-making and hopefully there’s a successful outcome at the end.”
Newcastle have been linked with a move for Burnley’s England under-21 international James Trafford should Dubravka move on.
And Howe refused to say whether Pope, who is back in training, remained his first-choice goalkeeper.
“It’s always in a state of flux,” he said. “It’s always changing and moving because that’s down to the player’s performances.”