Mohammad Yahya created history when he became the first Emirati fighter to win a mixed martial art title on Friday.
Yahya stopped the France-based Algerian Yazid Choufane in the second round of their lightweight contest in the UAE Warriors Arabia 4 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena.
Yahya floored Choufane with a right and then launched a barrage of punches when his opponent was on the canvas before the referee stopped the contest 4 minutes 48 seconds into the second round.
“I feel on top of the world,” Yahya said while celebrating the biggest night of his MMA career.
“I have many people to thank as I celebrate this moment. Firstly, the UAE Warriors for providing me with this opportunity, my coaches, family and my fans.
“It has been a long and hard journey but I have loved every moment of it until now. This is a moment I have been waiting for so long and this success is not only for me but my country and its people.”
The exchanges were even between the two fighters until Yahya landed a straight right to Choufane’s face that sent him crashing down. The Emirati then took advantage to quickly finish the contest.
In the other title battle, Moroccan Badreddine Diani clinched a split decision over Abdullah Al Boushehri of Kuwait for the welterweight belt.
It was a memorable night for the Emiratis as three others joined Yahya’s victory march.
Rashid Dawood won a split decision over Jordanian debutant Laith Kayali in the welterweight to stretch his unbeaten run to three.
Hadi Omar Al Hussaini outclassed Egyptian Emad Arafa in their featherweight fight in the second round with an arm triangle choke to make it two out-of-two and Abdulla Aldabal made a winning debut, ending the contest in round one with a triangle choke on Egyptian Mohamed El Leboudy.
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Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
