Khaleej Times

UFC Fight Island set for thrilling finish

- SPORTING EXTRAVAGAN­ZA IN ABU DHABI ashwani@khaleejtim­es.com

abu dhabi — The UFC Fight Island will produce a phenomenal 15-bout final round of events in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

The third and last of the Fight Nights’ headline event will host returning ‘Reaper’ Robert Whittaker versus ‘Gorilla’ Darren Till. In the co-main event, 44-year-old Antonio Nogueira seeks to end his career with an elusive win over Mauricio Rua. The heavyweigh­t division sees Alexander Gustafsson back from retirement against former champion Fabricio Werdum. Amid the mix is the new sensation Khamzat Chimaev who starred on his debut and drew instant comparison to icon Khabib Nurmagomed­ov. UFC president Dana White has string together a record 15-fight card to end the month-long sporting extravagan­za with a big bang.

Middleweig­ht No.1 ranked Whittaker stages a comeback after knockout loss to current champion Israel Adesanya in the UFC 243 last October.

“Honestly I am starving right now. I had my break. I felt the spark back and the fire and hunger to get in there and do what I do. I know I am dangerous. I have finished a lot of people. I know what I am going to do when I step into that octagon. I am going to go to war. Nothing means more to me than going in that octagon and smashing Darren Till. I am going out there to make a statement,” the 29-year-old said. Meanwhile, his opponent and No.5 ranked Darren Till is confident about making the most of his opportunit­y. “I am getting better every single day. There is so much more I have got to show. I haven’t even started this game yet. I want to achieve what I have set out and it’s not to achieve billion pounds but to be a legend. I am a man on a mission. I am going to do whatever it takes to beat Robert Whittaker. I am not going to stop before becoming the best of the rest,” he noted. The only women’s fight in the main card has Carla Esparza against Marina Rodriguez.

 ?? AFP ?? COMEBACK BOY: Robert Whittaker is ready to make a statement in Abu dhabi. —
Ashwani Kumar
AFP COMEBACK BOY: Robert Whittaker is ready to make a statement in Abu dhabi. — Ashwani Kumar

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