Al Hussaini is living the ‘dream’ and learning from the best in preparation for UAE Warriors challenge
Emirati, who recently turned pro, is coached by Mendez and trains with UFC great Nurmagomedov, writes John McAuley
To say the past few months have been a whirlwind for Hadi Omar Al Hussaini would be a gross understatement. Already an accomplished mixed martial artist, the Emirati turned professional in June, then kick-started his new career by quickly dispatching two opponents in burgeoning local promotion UAE Warriors.
Only a few weeks ago, Al Hussaini packed in his bank job in Dubai and spent time at the renowned American Kickboxing Academy in Thailand, made possible by the fact that he is coached now by its founder, and long-time trainer to some of the finest UFC champions in history, Javier Mendez.
As part of preparations for a third senior appearance at UAE Warriors 23 in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, the flyweight has honed his talent alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov and team at Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai recently.
Al Hussaini has taken a early headstart in his pro career learning from the best.
“I’m blessed,” he tells The National. “It’s a pleasure and an honour to train with the best. To be the best you have to train with the best, so it’s a great opportunity.
“My goal is not only to be a normal fighter. I want to be a legendary Emirati fighter that can compete with any level. Now I’m learning, just trying to get as much knowledge as a I can.
“Listen. Observe. Take it all in. For me, it’s a dream.”
It certainly sounds as such.
The association with Mendez came about through mutual friends in Dubai, who during dinner would often mention Al Hussaini or showcase footage of him in action.
Al Hussaini then bumped into Mendez at the hotel check-in ahead of UAE Warriors 21 in September – that fight night, Mendez was cornering Kuwaiti Mohammad Alaqraa – and said he wouldn’t ask to take a photo with him until after he won his bout.
Al Hussaini duly defeated Emad Arafa by second-round submission, got the snap, connected on Instagram and met up for dinner.
Now he is being mentored by the man who played an integral role in Nurmagomedov reigning supreme in the UFC until he retired, undefeated, as
lightweight champion in Abu Dhabi last year.
“The camp’s been unbelievable,” says Al Hussaini, who joined Mendez, Nurmagomedov and team amid preparations for their fighters’ bouts at UAE Warriors and this weekend’s UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi. “Even in my first sparring session, Javier was in my corner and Khabib was in [UFC flyweight] Tagir [Ulanbekov’s] corner. It was crazy. Training
with them is incredible. The level is the very highest.
“Everyone there is hungry, they don’t have time to waste. I realise the more work you put in the better you become. There’s no shortcuts. That’s why Khabib and the guys are the best.
“It’s all about discipline with them. It’s No 1. The pressure is unbelievable, for sure, but I’m just following what they do. It’s uncomfortable sometimes, but I’m enjoying every second of it.”
Al Hussaini adds: “They’re like a family, that’s what’s good about them. Everyone pushes each other. Most of them, they have fights, they have dreams. Most of them want to be in the UFC, want to be champions.
“Like Islam [Makhachev],
Zubaira [Tukhugov], all these guys their goal is to be UFC champion. And I’m training with them, so why can I not also have a goal and participate in the UFC? I’ll just dedicate myself like them and, inshallah, one day I’ll be a star like them.”
Crucially, Al Hussaini emphasises that he is in no rush, despite the breakneck progress in the past few months.
Al Hussaini is thankful to Palms Sports for a three-fight contract penned with UAE Warriors – “comfortably the best promotion in the region.”
Thursday’s bout against experienced Egyptian Hasan Abdelhafez forms the first test as he plans on taking everything “step by step”.
Of course, though, the UFC remains the ultimate objective
for almost every budding mixed martial artist.
“That’s the dream,” says Al Hussaini, who pays tribute also to the close work of coaches Tolly Plested and Gustavo Miranda, who aided his introduction to MMA and UAE Warriors. “Training with the guys from UFC, I don’t want to pump myself up. I know I need to do so much work.
“I’m not ready for the UFC yet. But I know if they can make it, I can make it.
“Like I said, I don’t want to take 10 steps ahead. Let me focus; I have a fight this week. This guy’s in my way.
“I’ll respect him as an opponent, but hopefully I’ll get my hand raised and get the ‘W’ in front of my people, in my country, in Abu Dhabi. And look at who’s next.”
Thursday’s clash against Egyptian Hasan Abdelhafez is the first of a three-fight contract with UAE Warriors