Daily Archives: May 17, 2024

With non-stop action and the world’s toughest elite athletes fighting for the title of champion, UFC is the world’s biggest MMA (mixed martial arts) organisation. The sport is home to fighters of various disciplines, spotlighting their combat talents across boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, creating an intense and fast-paced combat sport.

If you’re new to the world of UFC, this guide will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the eagerly anticipated return of UFC to the region this year, including UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN VS NURMAGOMEDOV in Abu Dhabi on August 3 at Etihad Arena, UFC’s first-ever event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on June 26, and UFC 308 on October 26.

UFC is big business:

• UFC was founded in 1993 which revolutionised the fight business and today is the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world producing more than 40 live events per year.
• UFC is broadcast in over 170 countries and territories to more than 975 million TV households worldwide in over 46 different languages.
• The sport has 700 million fans globally, and approximately 260 million followers across its official social media platforms. 

Inside the Octagon:

• Fights take place inside the famed Octagon®, with each round lasting 5 minutes.
• Unlike boxing or wrestling, MMA allows athletes of different backgrounds to showcase a wider range of fighting techniques, such as punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and grappling from different disciplines across the worlds of boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Karate, Kickboxing, Kung Fu, Freestyle & Greco-Roman Wrestling, and Tae Kwon Do.
• Male and female athletes compete by their weight divisions:
  • Men’s:
    • Heavyweight (265 lb/120kg)
    • Light Heavyweight (205 lb/93kg)
    • Middleweight (185 lb/83.9kg)
    • Welterweight (170lb/77.1kg)
    • Lightweight (155lb/70.3kg)
    • Featherweight (145lb/65.8kg)
    • Bantamweight (135lb/61.2kg)
    • Flyweight (125lb/56.7kg)
  • Women’s:
    • Bantamweight (135lb/61.2kg)
    • Flyweight (125lb/56.7kg)
    • Strawweight (115lb/52.2kg)
• Victories are awarded through different outcomes, including: knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO; referee stoppage due to fighter disadvantage), submission (tapping due to choke or lock), disqualification (illegal moves), or decision (judges’ scores after the fight).
• A panel of three judges can determine the winner in multipleways:
  • Unanimous: all judges agree the winner.
  • Split: One judge chooses one athlete. The other two judges pick the other athlete.
  • Majority: Two judges pick the same athlete as the winner. The final judge says fight was a draw.
  • Draw: A unanimous draw is when all three judges score the fight as a draw, a majority draw is when one judge selects in favour of one of the athletes while the other two score the fight as a draw, or a split draw when two judges select in favor of both athletes while the third scores the fight as a draw.

Getting to grips with fight terms:

• Common fight terms you can expect to hear on fight night include:
  • Clinch: fighters locked up close.
  • Takedown: bringing the fight from standing position to the ground.
  • Guard: A position where a fighter on their back uses their legs to control their opponent.
  • Sprawl and brawl: A fighting style focused on avoiding takedowns and exchanging strikes while standing.
  • Submission: When a fighter taps out (indicates they yield).

What to expect at a UFC Fight Night

Pre-Fight:

• Electric atmosphere: As the venue fills up with fans eager for the action, expect lively music, vendors selling food and drinks, and a general buzz of excitement and anticipation.
• Early fights: Up-and-coming fighters or those earlier on the fight card battle it out. These can be exciting displays of raw talent and a chance to discover future stars.
• Main card anticipation: As the night progresses, the crowd gets hyped for the main card fights featuring established fighters, title contenders, and potentially even championship bouts.

Fight Time:

• Epic walkouts: Fighters enter the Octagon to dramatic lighting with their entrance music pumping, and the crowd roaring.
• Fight action: The bell rings and the bout begins. Expect a mix of striking exchanges (jabs, crosses, hooks), grappling sequences (takedowns, submissions), and strategic maneuvers (footwork, defense, counters).
• Expert commentary: Commentators provide insights throughout the fight, explaining techniques, strategies, and fighters’ histories.

Fight Decisions:

• Corner time: Between rounds, fighters retreat to their corners for a short break. Coaches give instructions, strategise, and treat any injuries.
• The verdict (if it goes to the distance): Most non-championship fights are 3 rounds, occasionally extending to 5 rounds, while championship fights are 5. If the fight goes all the way, judges evaluate each round based on a points system and declare a winner.
• Post-fight interview: Following some fights, audiences can delight in seeing winners interviewed inside the Octagon, sharing their thoughts on the bout, and potentially calling out future opponents.

Ones to Watch:

• UFC has a stacked roster of athletes across nine weight divisions. Whilst almost everyone is familiar with superstar Conor McGregor, there are several more athletes who have been dubbed ‘ones to watch’ in UFC, including bantam weight Champion Sean O’Malley and welterweight Champion Leon Edwards.
• Middle Eastern favorites include, Khabib Nurmagomedov (retired but undefeated) and current UFC lightweightchampionIslam Makhachev- both originally from Russia, Morocco’s Youssef Zalal who recently made his return to UFC and the UAE’s very own Mohammad Yahya.

Where to watch UFC Tunein to STARZPLAY – UFC’s exclusive broadcast partner and the only place to stream the action in the Middle East.STARZPLAY airs every UFC event live.

Arabia Insurance, a leading insurance provider in the United Arab Emirates, and Policybazaar.ae, UAE’s leading insurance aggregator, today announced a strategic partnership to offer a wider range of insurance products to customers in the UAE through Policybazaar.ae’s user-friendly online platform.

This collaboration will enable Arabia Insurance to leverage Policybazaar.ae’s robust online insurance aggregation platform – ensuring that Arabia Insurance’s suite of products, including critical illness insurance, becomes readily accessible to a wider audience across the UAE. Customers will now be able to compare and purchase Arabia Insurance plans seamlessly online, simplifying the insurance buying journey.

Serge Flouty, Senior Country Manager-UAE of Arabia Insurance, said, “We are excited to partner with Policybazaar.ae, a leading player in the online insurance market. Their cutting-edge technology and extensive reach will allow us to offer our comprehensive insurance solutions, including critical illness plans, to a larger customer base in the UAE. This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision of making insurance more accessible and convenient for everyone.”

Commenting on the partnership, Neeraj Gupta, CEO, Policybazaar.ae said, “We are delighted to join forces with Arabia Insurance, a renowned name in the UAE insurance sector. This partnership allows us to expand our product offerings in the UAE and empower customers to make informed insurance decisions through a transparent and user-friendly online platform. This collaboration will particularly benefit individuals seeking critical illness insurance, making it readily available online for the first time.“

UAE customers stand to benefit significantly from this partnership, gaining access to a diverse array of products, notably critical illness plans by Arabia Insurance, along with the convenience of an online platform for swift and hassle-free purchases anytime, anywhere. This platform promotes transparency by enabling customers to compare plans, features, and prices, empowering them to make informed decisions efficiently. Together, these advantages streamline the insurance process, ensuring UAE customers find tailored coverage effortlessly.

EZDubai, the fully dedicated e-commerce zone in Dubai South, has launched the fourth edition of its ‘E-Commerce Report in the MENA Region 2023’ in collaboration with Euromonitor International, the world’s leading provider for global business intelligence, market analysis and consumer insights. The report revealed that the UAE’s total e-commerce market size reached AED 27.5 billion in 2023, and is expected to surpass AED 48.8 billion in 2028.

The rapid surge in e-commerce adoption in the UAE is fueled by the tech-savvy Gen Z and millennial population, empowered by strong government support in regulations and backed by substantial investments in digital infrastructure. The top three verticals by value in 2023 were apparel and footwear, consumer electronics and media products.

In the UAE, consumers prefer mobile-based shopping, prioritising convenience and cost-effectiveness. Credit and debit cards are the dominant payment methods for online purchases, as reported by 93.2% of respondents in Euromonitor International’s 2023 survey, showing strong confidence in traditional banking. Smartphones are a widely preferred medium for online shopping, indicating a growing reliance on seamless, mobile-centric shopping experiences, and emphasising the importance of social media.

Meanwhile, E-commerce in the MENA region continued its rise in 2023, with a year-on-year growth of 11.8% to reach nearly AED 106.5 billion after reflecting strong online adoption over the historic period, with a CAGR growth of 25% since 2018.  The e-commerce market size in the MENA is expected to reach AED 183.6 billion in 2028.

Key trends shaping MENA e-commerce include increased omnichannel adaptation, as consumers demand seamless shopping experiences, alongside a rise in digital payments and a shift towards payment apps. The popularity of membership programs and the expansion of online grocery shopping also mark significant changes. Furthermore, mobile commerce in the UAE and Saudi Arabia has seen a substantial surge, with its value nearly quadrupling from 2018 to 2023, reaching approximately AED 14.3 billion and AED 16.1 billion, respectively.

In his comments, Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of Logistics District, Dubai South said: “We are pleased to launch the fourth e-commerce report in partnership with Euromonitor and share the latest insights on the sector with our stakeholders. The region’s e-commerce industry has been witnessing impressive growth, and is primed for further robustness in the future, due to the widespread high-speed internet connectivity, and favorable policies mainly focused on development of digital payments and logistics infrastructure. The UAE has also introduced a new e-commerce law in 2023 to enhance its digital economy by encouraging investment, protecting consumer rights, and fostering innovation. At EZDubai, our mandate is to contribute to the government’s vision and cement the emirate’s position as a hub for regional e-commerce.”

EZDubaiwas designed to attract leading e-commerce companies and create a benchmark with its infrastructure. The e-commerce zone, launched in January 2019 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is strategically located in the heart of the Logistics District of Dubai South.