DUBAI: UFC fighter Markus Perez appeared during this weekend’s pre-fight weigh-ins with his face painted as the Batman villain “The Joker” and ahead of UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs Sandhagen mixed-martial arts event Sunday evening.
The Brazilian is scheduled to face South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis on Sunday at Abu Dhabi’s indoor live entertainment venue Flash Forum, state news agency WAM reported.
Setting aside the dark humor of a sinister smile painted on his face, Perez said his act was not about trying to intimidate his opponents, but was just a way for him to focus on his own game plan.
“I don’t put all this effort in and put on the face paint to intimidate my opponents. I do it because I identify with The Joker. The Joker is not about intimidation. If you read the DC Comics, he doesn’t stand out because of money or any superpowers, he stands out because of his intelligence,” Perez said.
“And I can relate to that. I like to use my intelligence, before and during a fight. You will see that from me in Octagon. I don’t have superpowers, but I fight intelligently, and it feels good,” he added.
UFC’s Markus Perez serious despite wearing The Joker’s smile ahead of fight night
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UFC’s Markus Perez serious despite wearing The Joker’s smile ahead of fight night
- The Brazilian is scheduled to face South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis on Sunday
- Setting aside the dark humor of a sinister smile painted on his face, Perez said his act was not about trying to intimidate his opponents
Man Utd’s Rashford close to Aston Villa loan: reports
- Villa have moved for Rashford after selling Colombia striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr on Friday
- A temporary switch to Villa would allow Rashford to rehabilitate his tarnished reputation
LONDON: Unsettled Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is close to joining Aston Villa on loan, according to reports on Saturday.
Villa have moved for Rashford after selling Colombia striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr on Friday.
The 27-year-old had been linked with AC Milan and Barcelona, while his representatives are also believed to have held talks with Tottenham and West Ham during the January transfer window.
A temporary switch to Villa would allow Rashford to rehabilitate his tarnished reputation after his astonishing fall from grace in the last two years.
Villa could benefit from a revitalized Rashford with a point to prove as they look to challenge for a top four finish in the Premier League, while also competing in the Champions League last 16.
Villa boss Unai Emery is sure to be asked about the interest in Rashford when his side face Wolves in Saturday’s late Premier League fixture.
Rashford has been looking to leave Old Trafford since admitting he was ready for a “new challenge” after being dropped by United boss Ruben Amorim for the Manchester derby in December.
The England star has missed all 12 of United’s game since then, with Amorim appearing to lose patience with Rashford recently when he said he would rather name the club’s 63-year-old goalkeeping coach in the squad.
Amorim said this week that Rashford would have to change his ways completely to end his exile.
But it now seems Rashford will get his wish to quit United before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Meanwhile, United have signed England Under-19 international Ayden Heaven from Arsenal in a deal worth over £1 million in compensation to the Gunners.
The 18-year-old center-back has signed a contract until 2029, with the option of a further year.
He was in the last six months of his scholarship terms at Arsenal and rejected the chance to sign a professional contract with the north Londoners.
Heaven made his Arsenal debut in the League Cup against Preston earlier this season and United said he will be “immediately” linking up with Amorim’s squad.
“I am incredibly proud to join Manchester United,” Heaven said.
“I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this dream a reality.
“There is so much that I want to achieve in the game. I’ll be giving everything to continue my development and become the best player that I can be.”
Overdrive Racing’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi claims eighth victory at Hail Rally
HAIL: Overdrive Racing’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi followed up his recent Dakar Rally victory with an eighth career success in the Hail Toyota International Rally (Saudi Baja) on Saturday.
The Toyota Hilux driver won the event five times in its longer format before 2020 and since then has won in 2022, 2024 and 2025. His German co-driver Timo Gottschalk won the longer rally with Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah in 2011 and has now taken won with Al-Rajhi in 2015, 2016, 2024 and 2025. The duo lead the 2025 FIA World Baja Cup after the opening round.
Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini and his Spanish co-driver Dani Oliveras kept the pressure on Al-Rajhi for long periods of the three-day event on a new route through the north-central deserts of Saudi Arabia, eventually finishing second in their Toyota Hilux, 5 minutes 49 seconds behind the Dakar winner.
Dania Akeel and Stephane Duple — hoping to defend Akeel’s 2024 FIA Middle East Baja Cup title — finished third to give Overdrive Racing a clean sweep of the podium places.
A prologue of 5.76km determined the start order for the opening special stage over a new route through the An-Nafud desert. Al-Rajhi set the pace with a run of 3:56, beating Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah by eight seconds. Yacopini and Akeel came fourth and sixth respectively.
Al-Rajhi started the opening 260km from ninth on the road and made his favorable starting position count with the fastest time. The Saudi beat Yacopini by 1:35 to take the lead with Akeel in third, 3:48 adrift.
There was no late drama for Al-Rajhi, who won the final 160km stage by 4:14 to secure victory.
The 2025 FIA World Baja Cup continues with the Jordan Baja in Aqaba on April 10.
2025 Saudi Baja unofficial result:
Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 4:28:15*
Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG)/Daniel Oliveras (ESP) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 4:34:04*
Dania Akeel (SAU)/Stephane Duple (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 4:38:26+
Khalifa Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Dmytro Tsyro (UKR) Taurus T3 Max 4:39:51+
Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Alexander Toril (ESP) G Rally Team OT3 4:45:12+
Ahmed Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Augusto Sanz (ARG) Taurus T3 Max 4:46:17+
Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Michal Goleniewski (POL) Ford F-150 4:53:28*
Hamza Bakhashab (SAU)/Marcin Pasek (POL) Can-Am Maverick R 4:54:21+
Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) Taurus T3 Max 4:56:25+
Sergei Remennik (ARE)/Aleksei Ignatov (KGZ) Taurus T3 Max 4:58:28*
* registered for FIA World Cup
+ registered for FIA Middle East Cup
Fifth Saudi Esports Federation Awards in Riyadh celebrate excellence
RIYADH: The Saudi Esports Federation hosted the fifth SEF Awards, featuring 19 eSport categories, at the SEF Arena at Boulevard Riyadh City on Friday night.
It was “a celebration of excellence, achievement and vision,” Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, the organization’s chairman, said at the gala event.
Faisal bin Homran, chief product officer at the Esports World Cup, reflected on the Kingdom’s endeavors in the gaming sector.
“Honestly, in the past few years, the progress of the industry is changing dramatically, especially with the Kingdom doing solid moves toward it, especially with changing the sector when it comes to projects like the Esports World Cup.”
“I think Saudi is now shaping the industry toward something sustainable for the industry overall and for any lover of eSports, specific games, audience, players (and) clubs.
Bin Homran told Arab News that he believed eSports would lead the field globally.
“Personally, (I think) it will be the number one sports in the world,” he said. “Overall, I think the future is amazing. There’s a lot of projects coming in. I’m really happy. I’m a passionate gamer myself and I’m living the dream.”
Saudi player Raef Alturkistani won the award for “best fighting game player,” taking the prize for the second consecutive year, and retaining the world title for a third year for his performance at the Tekken World Tour Finals.
“I am grateful for this,” he said. “I want to do my best next time so I can win it (best fighting game player) for the third time, hopefully … This year was the hardest year for me because I had so many competitors with me, in the same game and different games. But I achieved it ... going third in the world.”
Team Falcons of Saudi Arabia, also known as the first Esports World Cup club champions, took home the title for “best club.”
Musaad Al-Dossary, CEO of Falcons, said that the future of eSports in the Kingdom was promising.
“It’s rewarding, what we have achieved, the nights that we have been working, and sometimes it’s a hectic night, so nights like this (are for) rewards of what we have accomplished … We have been honored to have, the Esports World Cup here, thankfully we have won it and obviously looking to do more. I’m sure that everyone here in Saudi wants to do more and more.”
Rawan Al-Butairi, chief partnerships and corporate affairs at the Saudi Esports Federation, highlighted the success of the Kingdom’s national gaming strategy.
“Saudi Arabia has a national gaming strategy, eSports strategy, and other potential and impact ... It is Bollywood and Hollywood combined. So it is absolutely large in size and grasping such opportunity to amplify the impact through the players, through the content creators and through the community by creating an event like this will help us grow it substantially in the Kingdom to inspire the world.”
Adel Almeqeren, executive director of marketing and branding at the Saudi Esports Federation, said that this year it would establish a women’s eLeague.
“A lot of players, have both male and female play in the Saudi eLeague, but the challenge is that sometimes they can’t compete with each other. So by us doing that and segregating, in a good way, the women’s league, it gives them more light and it gives them more awareness to the public.”
Award categories included best rising player; best rising talent; best female player, presented by Hilton; best club, presented by Richy; best content creator, presented by SAIB; and best roster, presented by Golden Scent.
The winners of the 19 categories in this year’s SEF Awards are:
1. Best female talent: Ghala Al-Qahtani
2. Best host: Wajeh Fahad
3. Best rising player: Abdulaziz Altamimi
4. Best rising club: Al-Qadsiah
5. Best eSports media coverage: Sama News
6. Best female player: Mohdi Alkanhal
7. Best roster: Team Falcons — Rocket League
8. Best coach: Abdulrahman bin Fayez
9. Best rising talent: Saleh Alrakaf
10. Best FPS games player: Ibrahim Alali
11. Best fighting game player: Raef Alturkistani
12. Best battle royale player: Khalid Alomar
13. Best MOBA game player: Orifan Alsulaimany
14. Best sports player: Mohammed Alotaibi
15. Best club: Team Falcons
16. Best caster: Abdulaziz Almehmadi
17. Best analyst: Fahad Ghzwani
18. Best content creator: Saleh Alzahrani
19. Best streamer: Mufrih Assiri
Australia’s Marsh out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy with back issue
- Replacement to be named later with deadline for final squads on Feb. 12
- Eight-nation Champions Trophy tournament to begin from Feb. 19-Mar.9
SYDNEY: Australia’s Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of next month’s Champions Trophy with a back injury, with the allrounder needing an “extended period of rehabilitation.”
Marsh struggled with the complaint during their recent home Test series against India and Cricket Australia said the problem had not “responded sufficiently.”
“Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy with ongoing lower back pain and dysfunction,” the governing body said late Friday.
“His lower back pain flared in recent weeks leading the National Selection Panel to make the longer term decision for Marsh to complete a more extended period of rehabilitation.”
A replacement will be named later, with the deadline for final squads on February 12.
The eight-nation Champions Trophy will be hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates between February 19 and March 9.
Wembanyama has 30 points, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks to help Spurs beat Antetokounmpo, Bucks, 144-118
- Wembanyama was 9 for 20 from the field in an dynamic showing one day after being named to his first All-Star Game as a Western Conference reserve
SAN ANTONIO: Victor Wembanyama had 30 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks and the San Antonio Spurs had a season high in points to overcome 35 points and 13 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo and beat the Milwaukee Bucks 144-118 on Friday night.
Keldon Johnson added 24 points and Stephon Castle had 20 as San Antonio snapped a two-game skid and won for just the second time in seven games.
Damian Lillard had 22 points for Milwaukee. Khris Middleton added 21.
Wembanyama was 9 for 20 from the field in a dynamic showing one day after being named to his first All-Star Game as a Western Conference reserve.
Wembanyama banked in a 34-foot 3-pointer that hit the backboard, bounced off the front of the rim, hit the backboard again and dropped in with 7:18 remaining in the third quarter. The 3-pointer drew loud gasps and cheers from the fans and left Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers with his arms raised in puzzlement.
Wembanyama closed out a 14-point quarter by making a running, one-legged 3-pointer.
Takeaways
Bucks: Middleton was 8 for 9 from the field, including 3 for 4 on 3-pointers, in 23 minutes off the bench.
Spurs: Castle is averaging 16.8 points and 3.3 assists in his past nine games since returning to the starting lineup.
Key moment
Wembanyama was held to two points on 1-for-4 shooting in the first quarter, but he had three blocks to help San Antonio end the period tied at 35. Wembanyama blocked Antetokounmpo’s shots twice in 14 seconds in the opening two minutes of the game. Antetokounmpo avoided a third block by powering in a dunk over Wembanyama.
Key stat
San Antonio shot 15 for 25 from the field in outscoring Milwaukee 45-30 in the third quarter.
Up next
The Bucks host Memphis on Sunday night. The Spurs host Miami on Saturday night to complete a three-game homestand.
