While not quite agreeing that UFC 280 represents his Conor McGregor-Jose Aldo moment, Sean O’Malley is out to show the world in Abu Dhabi exactly how talented he is.
“Suga Sean”, one of the most popular stars in the sport, this weekend faces his toughest test to date in the UFC, when he takes on No 1-ranked bantamweight contender, and former champion, Petr Yan.
Win at Etihad Arena on Saturday night, and UFC president Dana White has already said O’Malley, the 11th-ranked challenger, is next for a title shot. Abu Dhabi this weekend, White said, could even be the talented American's true breakout moment.
It would sure be a lot to live up to. In 2015, McGregor dropped Aldo in 13 seconds to end the Brazilian’s long reign as featherweight champion. In doing so, he sparked a combat-sports career for the ages.
“I don’t know. I don’t really put too much thought into it,” O’Malley said on Wednesday. “This is 'Suga' versus Petr. The chances of me going out there and knocking him out in 13 seconds are very low. But 'Suga' versus Petr seems sweeter to me than Conor versus Aldo.”
O’Malley, 15-1 in professional MMA, conceded Yan constitutes his sternest challenge since breaking into the UFC, as an explosive winner of the Dana White Contender Series, in 2017.
“That’s what so exciting,” O’Malley said. “Because I have the skills, I have the abilities, and now I have the opportunity to go out and show the world that I’m as good as I’ve been saying I am.”
One thing that O’Malley did agree with White about, though: dispatch Yan, and a first shot at UFC gold is his. Aljamain Sterling, the current champion, fights in Abu Dhabi, too, when he defends his title against former belt-holder TJ Dillashaw.
“I already knew [about the title shot],” O’Malley said. “I’m the biggest draw in the bantamweight division; one of the biggest draws in the UFC. I go out there and beat the No 1 guy, who else would I fight other than for the title?”
O'Malley, who sported a kandura and ghutra on Wednesday, seems to have embraced his Abu Dhabi stay. He has never competed in the UFC outside of Las Vegas.
Based in the capital for the past two weeks ago, shifting across the world to showcase his superstar credentials was always going to be worth it.
“Doesn’t matter [where I fight],” O’Malley said. “Obviously my last 10 fights or so have been in Vegas. But they offer you Petr Yan – a big opportunity – I’m not going to say no because it’s in Abu Dhabi. It’s actually been really fun. I would not mind fighting here again.”
O’Malley did, however, contest Yan’s claim that it was the Russian who decided upon their matchup. “I know he was saying he picked that fight,” O’Malley said. “I don’t believe that. I think he got bullied into it.”
Of course, Yan (16-3) contested that take. “Considering all the top five guys are busy, with fights already booked, I had a desire to fight Sean,” he said. “The UFC liked this idea, and the fight was made.”
On the McGregor-Aldo comparison, Yan replied: “On the PR side of things, you can definitely compare it. Sean is a UFC project and a Conor wannabe. But the result of this match will be different.”
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
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