Fighters in open work before UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi

Umar Nurmagomedov (right) (Supplied)
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Updated 02 August 2024
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Fighters in open work before UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi

  • International stars go through their paces at Yas Mall

Abu Dhabi: In the run-up to UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov this weekend at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, fans enjoyed a glimpse of the main event protagonists at the UFC Open Workouts at Yas Mall on Thursday night.

Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov, headliners of the Aug. 3 event, took part in the workouts, as did co-main event athletes Shara Magomedov and Michal Oleksiejczuk, with each demonstrating their workout skills in front of throngs of MMA enthusiasts.

Sandhagen, who is No.2 in the bantamweight rankings, will have his work cut out against undefeated Dagestani Nurmagomedov (17-0) in what promises to be an intense curtain-closer with both fighters looking to set up a future title shot.

The unbeaten Magomedov, meanwhile, is returning to the octagon on short noticen. His Polish opponent Oleksiejczuk is a veteran of the game, promising another gripping bout in the co-headline middleweight clash.

The four fighters were joined at Yas Mall by Mohammed Yahya, the first Emirati to compete in the UFC. Yahya will be competing in the fight promotion for the second time in his career, taking on Brazilian Kaue Fernandes. Yahya holds an overall record of 12-4, with extensive experience fighting in the region. Fernandes, 29 and with a record of 8-2, is also making only his second UFC appearance.

 


Formula E heads to Jeddah for double-header, Evans looking to build on Miami momentum

Updated 10 February 2026
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Formula E heads to Jeddah for double-header, Evans looking to build on Miami momentum

  • The night races in Saudi Arabia come with the drivers’ standings tightly contested, with the top five separated by just seven points after three rounds

JEDDAH: The FIA Formula E World Championship continues this week with the first double-header of the 2025/26 season, as Rounds 4 and 5 take place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Feb. 13 and 14.

The night races in Saudi Arabia come with the drivers’ standings tightly contested, with the top five separated by just seven points after three rounds, while the highly anticipated Pit Boost feature also returns this weekend.

Pit Boost is a mandatory mid-race stop that provides cars with a 10 percent energy increase, adding a significant strategic element to selected races during double-header weekends.

Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans arrives in Jeddah fresh from victory in Miami and said the team is keen to build on its momentum.

“Getting the win in Miami was a huge boost, for me personally, of course, but for the whole team too. It was one of those races where everything just came together, and to take my 15th Formula E victory with Jaguar made it even more special,” he said.

“Now the attention shifts to Jeddah, which is a completely different challenge. We’ve shown we have the pace, and if we execute well across both races, there’s a big opportunity for us to really ride this momentum,” he added.

Porsche Formula E Team’s Nico Muller said the Jeddah E-Prix presents a unique challenge, particularly with the return of Pit Boost, which will be used in one of the two races.

“I’m excited for the Jeddah E-Prix, a night race is always special. It’s a cool track, it suits the GEN3 Evo (car) well,” he said.

“It’ll be the first Pit Boost race of the season, which will make things challenging, having two completely different races. It also makes preparation more intense because we’re preparing for two different scenarios.

“However, we have a strong base, the car and the team are performing well, and now it’s about optimizing our package for this track and the conditions. We have full focus on scoring points and chasing that victory,” he added.

The Jeddah E-Prix will once again be held under the lights, with cooler track and air temperatures expected to influence tire behavior and energy efficiency.

Off track, Formula E will also host the return of EVO Sessions, where global content creators will drive electric race cars at the circuit following the race weekend, with the event set to be streamed live on YouTube on Feb. 15.

The championship continues to promote sustainability and community engagement in Jeddah through initiatives focused on renewable energy use, waste reduction, education programs and inclusion, including support for young women in motorsport and local community partnerships.