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ABU DHABI: When the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi signed its long-term partnership with the UFC in 2019, it did so with a vision to establish the city as the world capital for combat sports.

Since then, DCT Abu Dhabi has staged more than 20 UFC events, introduced the world to Fight Island during the COVID-19 pandemic, and delivered some of the organization’s most memorable nights.

UFC President Dana White once described Abu Dhabi as the “fight capital of the world,” and six years later that statement rings truer than ever.

Abu Dhabi’s ambition extends well beyond hosting blockbuster events. Its strategy is about legacy: creating opportunities for local and regional athletes, fostering young talent, and ensuring mixed martial arts has a long-term home in the Middle East.

The commitment runs through state-of-the-art facilities, grassroots initiatives, and world-class fights that bring the sport closer to fans while inspiring the next generation of athletes.

Khamzat Chimaev’s story is one such example of this strategy in action. He first stepped into the Octagon in Abu Dhabi in July 2020 at “UFC Fight Night: Katter vs. Ice,” and submitted John Phillips.

Just 10 days later, he returned for “UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till,” stopping Rhys McKee in the first round and making history with the fastest turnaround in the company’s history.

He was back in Abu Dhabi in October 2021 for “UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira,” where he overwhelmed Li Jingliang with a first-round submission.

Four years later, having fought five of his eight UFC bouts in Abu Dhabi and under the UAE flag, he took his undefeated record to 15-0 at UFC 319 when he beat Dricus du Plessis in Chicago to capture the middleweight title.

Chimaev’s success as one of the sport’s most established athletes is a testament to the capital’s mission to foster homegrown talent.

Commenting on Abu Dhabi’s global MMA vision, Saleh Al-Geziry, director-general for tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said recently: “Abu Dhabi has become a global stage where athletes showcase their talents and fans witness unforgettable sporting moments.

“Our long-standing partnership with UFC supports our vision to position the emirate as the international home of martial arts and a destination for world-class sports.

“By hosting iconic events, inspiring new audiences, and creating opportunities for athletes at every level, we are continuing to grow Abu Dhabi’s role as a global hub for sport, culture, and tourism.”

In 2023, DCT Abu Dhabi and the UFC extended their partnership, reflecting the success of the joint venture and a strategic vision for the growth of MMA in the emirate.

Under the agreement, the UFC brings one numbered event, featuring a championship bout, to Abu Dhabi every year, along with UFC Fight Night which is also hosted annually in the emirate.

As DCT Abu Dhabi continues to bring international sports to the capital, MMA sits at the heart of these endeavors.

In July, the city hosted “UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder” and is now preparing for “UFC 321: Aspinall vs. Gane” on Oct. 25. Taking place inside the Etihad Arena, the event will have Tom Aspinall defend his heavyweight title for the first time against Ciryl Gane.

TORONTO: George Springer blasted a three-run home run to end the Toronto Blue Jays’ 32-year wait to return to the World Series on Monday, crushing the Seattle Mariners’ dreams of a first-ever appearance in Major League Baseball’s championship finale.

Springer’s seventh-inning 381-foot rocket into left field propelled the Blue Jays to a 4-3 Game 7 victory after the Mariners had taken a 3-1 lead at Toronto’s Rogers Center.

The Blue Jays will now face the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a best-of-seven battle for the Fall Classic, with Game 1 set for Toronto on Friday.

It will be the Blue Jays first appearance in the World Series since the Canadian franchise won back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993.

“I’m just so happy for our team, our city, our country,” an elated Springer told Fox Sports television following the win. “This is such an unbelievable moment.”

Springer had been forced to exit Game 5 in Seattle last week after being hit on the kneecap but said he had fought through the pain barrier to help Toronto clinch victory in Monday’s decider.

“It doesn’t matter,” Springer said of his sore knee. “I owe it to these fans, this city and this country to give them my all. So I’ll take it.”

Blue Jays manager John Schneider saluted Springer’s uncanny knack of rising to the moment when called upon. Springer has now scored 23 post-season home runs, the third most in history behind Manny Ramirez (29) and Jose Altuve (27).

‘Canada’s team’

“There’s probably not another person on planet Earth that I want up in that moment other than George Springer with his October magic,” Schneider said.

The win also completed a remarkable turnaround for the Blue Jays, who had stumbled into a 0-2 hole after dropping the first two games of the American League Championship Series at home to the Mariners.

“What this group has accomplished so far is amazing,” Schneider said. “This is so well-earned.”

The win now sets up a cross-border US-Canada baseball battle between the Blue Jays and the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers.

Toronto owner Edward Rogers is determined his team can clinch a third title.

“This is Canada’s team,” Rogers said. “This team has the depth and the character and the vision and they’re going to go all the way.”

The defeat was cruel on Seattle, who had dared to dream of the franchise’s first ever trip to the World Series after doggedly pulling into a 3-1 lead with the finish line in sight in the seventh inning.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson applauded his team’s season.

“I know this stings and there’s no question that it’s going to sting, but the kind of season they had, doing things that no team in this organization has ever done, and knocking on the door of a World Series, all that, you know, it’s due to how hard they’ve worked, how hard they’ve played all season long, all the times they have come back, all the times they have bounced back,” Wilson said.

“It’s a special team. It’s a shame that we had to come out on the wrong side of this one.”

Seattle had got off to a solid start, with Josh Naylor’s single to right field bringing home Julio Rodriguez for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Toronto hit back immediately in the bottom of the inning, however, with centerfielder Daulton’s single sending Springer scampering across home plate for 1-1.

A third inning home run from centerfielder Rodriguez followed by another towering homer from catcher Cal Raleigh in the fifth inning put the Mariners 3-1 up.

But Springer — a member of the Houston Astros 2017 World Series-winning team — stepped up in the seventh inning to pounce on a loose pitch by Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo and catapult Toronto into the lead and into the Fall Classic.