UFC’s Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady says Palestinian people ‘the real fighters’ ahead of Riyadh bout

UFC’s Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady says Palestinian people ‘the real fighters’ ahead of Riyadh bout
The Middle East has shaped Al-Selwady, 29, as a person and fighter. (X/@selwadymma)
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Updated 24 January 2025
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UFC’s Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady says Palestinian people ‘the real fighters’ ahead of Riyadh bout

UFC’s Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady says Palestinian people ‘the real fighters’ ahead of Riyadh bout
  • The 29-year-old takes on Belgium’s Bolaji Oki at UFC Fight Night 250 on Feb. 1

LONDON: For more than a decade, Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady has — quite literally — been flying the flag for Palestine in the world of professional mixed martial arts.

His nickname, “The Pride of Palestine,” speaks to his roots and why “alam Filastin” can be seen draped over his shoulders before and after each fight.

The Middle East has shaped Al-Selwady, 29, as a person and fighter. His professional career began in the Desert Force and Brave promotions, in Jordan and Bahrain respectively.

On Feb. 1 in Riyadh, he fights in the region for the first time in five years, a rare Arab face in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. At UFC Fight Night 250, Al-Selwady (15-4-0) opens the card against Belgium’s Bolaji Oki (9-2-0).

And while he now lives and trains in Dallas, Texas, the Palestinian-American fighter is expecting the bout to feel like a homecoming.

“Honestly, it’s a very beautiful feeling fighting in the Middle East,” Al-Selwady told Arab News. “It’s almost like you’re fighting at home. Even though I haven’t lived in the region for a long time, I know people are going to be cheering for me and I plan to deliver that big win in front of my people.

“There aren’t that many Arab fighters that are actually from the Middle East who really made a big name in the UFC. Some guys have Arab origins but never actually lived in the region, but it is where I started my MMA career.”

As he does in every fight, Al-Selwady will take to the ring holding a Palestinian flag, with trunks likely some combination of green, white, red and black. He feels strongly that as an athlete he has a duty to remind the world about the struggles of the Palestinian people.

“I’ve represented Palestine throughout my career and it’s a beautiful responsibility,” Al-Selwady explained. “It’s a beautiful weight to carry on your shoulders because you feel almost like you’re leading and your people are watching.

“It gives me such motivation and really does fuel me because anytime you’re feeling like you’re going through something, you look at the people that you’re representing. It fuels me to go through all of the pain and to come out as a winner.

“They’re the real fighters out there. They’re my heroes, they’re my inspiration. It just pushes me to work harder harder because I choose to go through the fighting, the weight cuts, the discomfort. They don’t choose to be under genocide. But that’s their situation just because of who they are and where they live.”

The contest with Oki in Riyadh will be his first fight since the recent ceasefire in Gaza, following 18 months of bombardment.

“It’s a great announcement,” Al-Selwady said. “We’ve been waiting for it since the day this started so it makes me really happy. It will be nice for people to be able to take a breath after so long. I hope to give the Palestinian people a victory, though I always say that winning a fight is great, but the more important fight is still going on.”

Al-Selwady’s contest will be extra special because for the first time in five years he will have his father in his corner. The father-son combination was a regular fixture during Al-Selwady’s MMA career in the Gulf, but has been a rarer sight in recent years as he has fought mostly in the US and Europe.

“In Saudi this is going to be the first time my dad will be cornering me in a long time,” Al-Selwady said with a smile. “My family, especially when I lived in the Middle East, were very invested in my career. My mom was basically my nutritionist, and my dad was my coach.

“We did every single training session together. He would film every session that I did on tape and then review it, and then he would study tape of my opponents too.

“Even now, we have a shared folder and I upload my weekly sparrings, and he’s always giving me advice on how I can improve. I guess you could call it a family business.”

That family business began when Al-Selwady was a teenager. He recalls being “a really high-energy kid” who was “always getting into trouble.” A natural athlete, he dabbled in baseball and football but it was when broadcasts of the UFC and Strikeforce were on TV that he was left most transfixed.

“When I first saw MMA, I knew that it was exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Al-Selwady said. “I was smart in school and got good grades but I was never going to be a doctor or an engineer. I always wanted to be a professional MMA fighter.”

Al-Selwady started with kickboxing and then became a sparring partner for some fighters in the Desert Force MMA promotion in Jordan. He made his first Desert Force appearance at 10 days’ notice as a 17-year-old, winning by technical knockout.

“They were really surprised at how good I was, how aggressive; and how even if I was getting caught in submissions, I would get right back up and say, ‘let’s go some more.’ I trained so hard and God just set everything up for me to take my place the way I did.

“MMA has just grown so much since then. Back when I started, I was one of the first active MMA fighters in the Middle East; now I’m one of the last ones going. There are just a few of us left who started at that time and are still going strong right now.”

After building a reputation over more than a decade, Al-Selwady finally made his debut last year in the UFC, widely regarded as the pinnacle MMA promotion. The Jordan-born grappler fought valiantly but lost a roller-coaster contest to Loik Radzhabov.

“Feeling bad after losing isn’t going to change anything and, honestly, the way I lost, I learned so much from it,” Al-Selwady said philosophically. “It actually gave me even more confidence in myself than before.

“Most of the fights that I’ve won before, I was winning the whole time but in this one I had to fight through adversity in the beginning of the fight. I came back from that and then I was winning but let go of the gas pedal in the third round because I felt confident. Then he just leaped in and caught me.

“It was definitely a lesson for me, like God reminding me that I could do it, I was there, but then I got a little too cocky. You have to focus second by second because I looked at him and I smirked in the third round like … ‘that’s it, we’re done.’ But we weren’t done.”

Al-Selwady put that defeat behind him by beating Amin Ayoub last May by unanimous decision in the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship’s ADXC 4 event. In Riyadh, he returns to the UFC and faces a late addition to the card in Oki; his original opponent Daniel Leavitt dropped out, though he is in talks to rebook the fight for April.

With his sights now firmly set on the first UFC victory of an impressive MMA career, Al-Selwady is in confident mood and guarantees that he will put on a show for those in the Saudi capital, and the millions watching at home.

“I don’t train for fights, I train to be a better fighter and I train to be a better person,” Al-Selwady said. “I’m focused on getting the job done and I’m really excited to get back in there.

“Since the day I started fighting until now, I’ve never had a boring fight. Ever. And I don’t ever plan to. I’m not a boring fighter and I’m not a boring person, even outside of fighting. I always keep things interesting.

“Whether you’re an MMA fan or not, this fight will catch your attention. It is the first fight of the night, and it will be the fight of the night.”


British trainer George Scott thriving in Middle East as Phantom Flight targets Bahraini Triple Crown

British trainer George Scott thriving in Middle East as Phantom Flight targets Bahraini Triple Crown
Updated 59 min 41 sec ago
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British trainer George Scott thriving in Middle East as Phantom Flight targets Bahraini Triple Crown

British trainer George Scott thriving in Middle East as Phantom Flight targets Bahraini Triple Crown
  • Newmarket-based handler has enjoyed remarkable success in the region

LONDON: British trainer George Scott is making waves in the Middle East with a string of impressive victories across Bahrain and Dubai, and soon, he hopes, in Saudi Arabia.

The Newmarket-based handler has enjoyed remarkable success, most notably guiding Isle of Jura to a historic Bahraini Triple Crown in 2024 for Sheikh Nasser Al-Khalifa’s Victorious Racing.

Scott’s winning form has continued into the 2025 season, with Phantom Flight securing victory in The Crown Prince Cup, the first leg of the Bahraini Triple Crown. The gelding is now poised to follow in Isle of Jura’s footsteps.

“Phantom Flight has gone from strength to strength physically and mentally in Bahrain. He’s thrived there and has taken a big step forward on his last start. I am very much looking forward to HH Sheikh Nasser’s Cup in a few weeks’ time and then The King’s Cup. Hopefully he can follow Isle of Jura,” Scott said in comments to Great British Racing International.

Reflecting on his successful campaign in Bahrain, Scott praised the teamwork behind his achievements.

“I’ve loved my season in Bahrain. It’s been an incredible success so far; all credit goes to my staff out there and my owners Sheikh Nasser and the City House boys. Those horses have been selected for that purpose and it has gone well so far.”

Scott’s winning touch has also extended to Dubai, where West Acre stormed to victory in the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint. The three-year-old sprinter is now being primed for Super Saturday, with hopes of securing a place on the prestigious Dubai World Cup card.

“West Acre has always been a horse that we held in very high regard at home. It’s been well documented that he picked up an injury in the spring last year which meant he could not have a conventional two-year-old campaign. Last time he gave us one of those moments that rarely happens on the racetrack; he really impressed me with his turn of foot,” Scott said.

Looking ahead, Scott has high hopes for his charge on one of the biggest nights in global racing.

“He will go to Super Saturday now and then onto the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night, all being well. He’s shown a liking to the track at Meydan and we are all hoping he can repeat that performance again, because if he does, he will be a Group 1 sprinter. We will then consider long-term plans for him, but the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes over five furlongs (1,006 meters) at Royal Ascot is in the picture.”

Scott’s Middle Eastern campaign extends to Saudi Arabia, where Prydwen is set to make his debut in the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap on Feb. 22 as part of the Saudi Cup meeting. The seven-year-old, who won the German St. Leger last year, recently finished fourth in a Group 3 contest at Meydan, beaten by just a length.

“Prydwen took a little time to acclimatize to life in the Middle East and I was much happier with him going into his second race. He’s come forward again for that run and I am looking forward to the Red Sea Turf,” Scott said.

“It will be my first runner in Saudi, something that I’ve always wanted to do. We are under no illusions as to how difficult a race it will be but he should enjoy the conditions and the trip. It will be an interesting first runner for us and hopefully we will spend more time there in the future,” he added.

With major targets on the horizon in Bahrain, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, Scott’s presence in the Middle Eastern racing scene is growing stronger by the day. His continued success highlights the increasing global footprint of British trainers and the strength of British-trained horses on the international stage.


How SFA’s Prince Khaled galvanized 40,000 people to take Vision 2030 to the streets of Riyadh

How SFA’s Prince Khaled galvanized 40,000 people to take Vision 2030 to the streets of Riyadh
Updated 10 February 2025
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How SFA’s Prince Khaled galvanized 40,000 people to take Vision 2030 to the streets of Riyadh

How SFA’s Prince Khaled galvanized 40,000 people to take Vision 2030 to the streets of Riyadh
  • Saudi Sports for All Federation sees record-breaking numbers for the 2025 Riyadh Marathon, meeting Ministry of Sport target for Vision 2030

RIYADH: More than 40,000 people of all ages and abilities took part in the 2025 edition of the Riyadh Marathon at the weekend, staged by the Saudi Sports for All Federation — a Ministry of Sport arm targeting mass participation.

With separate races for elite and amateur participants, including family runs and a number of distance options, this year’s marathon saw the largest number of participants and attendees than all previous years, setting a new record for mass participation sports in the Kingdom.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Prince Khaled bin Al-Waleed bin Talal Al-Saud revealed that the race’s four categories — the full marathon (42 km), half marathon (21 km), 10 km and the highly popular family 4 km race  — were fully subscribed.

“We can’t look only at the number of participants; we need to assess it through the lens of the wider sports ecosystem it feeds, builds upon, enhances. Every person who hits the pavement is contributing to the crown prince’s vision of Saudi Arabia, to Vision 2030 itself,” said Prince Khaled, the Saudi Sports for All Federation president, on the sidelines of one of the Kingdom’s most international events.

“Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal has paved the way for success with his support and guidance during our planning and execution stages; the Ministry of Sport was even engaging in real time on the social channels. I loved seeing the ministry call out our heroes and cheer them on,” he added, referencing the many posts on X featuring key moments from the event.

Among the thousands of marathon-related posts tagging Prince Khaled on Instagram and X, the mother of Allyn Al-Oraifi declared that her three-month old baby would see the prince and the SFA team “at the finish line,” as officially the youngest participant in the country’s flagship annual running event.

Other posts lauded the prince’s efforts to get people moving and making the marathon accessible for all.

“This is what Sports for All stands for at our core: No matter how young, old, no matter your ability, we are designing programs that make you part of the fabric of success for physical activities and health in Saudi. It is an international event, with an organic and spontaneous celebratory feeling to it,” said Prince Khaled. “Just look around — this is history being made.

“You can be part of Vision 2030; you can lead the way. Just join us and take one step after the other. Bring your kids, bring your parents, start something at your company like our many community sports groups. Whatever the sport or activity, we are here to help you and see Saudi take mass participation to the next level,” the SFA president said, adding that the work of the federation’s managing director, Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini, had been crucial to managing the many different stakeholders of the marathon.

The marathon routes were planned along important Riyadh landmarks, including Boulevard City and Wadi Hanifah, while the event start line was around Boulevard World and finish line near Kingdom Arena. Various entities created bespoke experiences around the marathon, such as a special Riyadh Marathon drink by Joe & the Juice.

Prince Khaled attributed much of the success to the core and supporting sponsors of the event. “Saudi Awwal Bank was the presenting partner for a second time, with ASICS and Tawuniya as headline sponsors for both the SFA Expo and the Riyadh Marathon. We are proud to work closely with these community-minded entities to grow Saudi’s health and wellness achievement metrics,” Prince Khaled said.

And for next year’s event?

“Marathon planning basically starts the day after the marathon and goes on for the entire year. Partners play such a crucial role in getting people excited for the event; our community sports groups are the best at this,” said Prince Khaled.

“Every post on social media, every time you tag a friend — we see it and we want you to know that we know you are the people lighting it up.

“Keep going. Let’s move on this momentum together.”


Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city

Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city
Updated 10 February 2025
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Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city

Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets new layout with Formula E poised to debut in Saudi city
  • After six successful seasons in Diriyah, the all-electric racing series will now compete on a specially adapted layout of Jeddah Corniche Circuit

JEDDAH: Drivers will compete on a revised version of the record-breaking Jeddah Corniche Circuit in a double-header weekend when the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship comes to Saudi Arabia this weekend.

After six successful seasons in Diriyah, the all-electric racing series will now compete on a specially adapted layout of the circuit, the fastest in the world, as the championship moves to Jeddah for the first time on Feb. 14-15. 

The newly modified three kilometer track will have 19 corners, offering a new challenge for drivers and teams as they navigate high-speed turns along the Red Sea coastline.

The Jeddah E-Prix’s circuit layout has been tailored exclusively for Formula E, featuring four new chicanes placed to enhance overtaking and show off the agility of the electric vehicles.

The track diverges from the traditional Formula 1 route just before Turn 4, before rejoining at the Turn 21/22 section. Two additional chicane complexes have been installed between Turns 25 and 26, leading into the final corner and on to the pit straight.

These modifications were completed in just 30 days, with a dedicated 120-member team working around the clock to transform the circuit.

“Delivering a brand-new track layout at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in just 30 days was an immense challenge, but one that our dedicated team of 120 track specialists tackled with incredible skill and determination,” said Angus Miller, senior track and overlay manager at Formula E.

Samer Issa-El-Khoury, managing partner of CBX, the promoter of the Jeddah E-Prix, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the project.

“Thanks to the joint efforts of CBX, the Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation, and Formula E, we have adapted the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to create a track that will deliver thrilling electric racing for fans and drivers alike,” he said.

Formula E will also introduce Pit Boost, an innovative mid-race feature, at Jeddah’s opening race.

This new strategy element grants drivers a 10 percent energy increase (3.85kWh) via a 30-second, 600kW ultra-fast energy boost in the pitlane. The feature is designed to shake up race tactics.

Saudi Arabia is a key destination on the championship’s calendar, and the move to Jeddah aligns with its Vision 2030 strategy to develop world-class sporting events throughout the Kingdom.


Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh
Updated 10 February 2025
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Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh
  • Portuguese football legend followed the matches closely and celebrated the victory of his compatriots Miguel and Nuno Deus
  • Ronaldo is the latest in a growing list of global sports stars drawn to Premier Padel and its elite-level competition

RIYADH: Padel continues to capture the attention of global sports icons, with Cristiano Ronaldo among the spectators at the Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1, enjoying the top-level action on the court. The Portuguese football legend followed the matches closely and celebrated the victory of his compatriots Miguel and Nuno Deus, who secured their place in the main draw with an impressive performance in the final qualifying round.

Ronaldo is the latest in a growing list of global sports stars drawn to Premier Padel and its elite-level competition. Last year, Neymar Jr. attended the Riyadh Premier Padel P1, while other football greats including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Esteban Cambiasso, Leandro Paredes, and Paulo Dybala have also shown their passion for the sport by recently attending tournaments. Beyond football, combat sports icons Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ilia Topuria have also attended Premier Padel tournaments. During the Qatar Grand Prix in 2024, sporting legends including Novak Djokovic, Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, drivers Lando Norris, George Russell and Oscar Piastri, footballers Luis Figo and Marco Materazzi, and basketball’s Tony Parker attended a sporting legends tournament during the event, further highlighting Premier Padel’s appeal.

The Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1 is the first tournament of the 2025 season, following an exceptional 2024 campaign that featured 24 tournaments across 16 countries. As part of Premier Padel’s continued global expansion, the event brings world-class padel to Saudi Arabia, with top international players battling for valuable ranking points and the first title of the season.


Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record

Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record
Updated 10 February 2025
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Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record

Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record
  • Breetzke scored 150, the highest score by any batter on his ODI debut, to lift South Africa to 304-6 but Williamson’s 133 won the match
  • Pakistan, the third team in the tri-series, will play South Africa on Wednesday in Karachi to decide who meets New Zealand in the final

LAHORE: Star cricketer Kane Williamson hit a brilliant century to take New Zealand into the tri-series final with a thumping six-wicket win on Monday, overshadowing South African opener Matthew Breetzke’s record score on debut.
Breetzke scored 150 — the highest score by any batter in his first one-day international — to lift South Africa to 304-6 but Williamson’s unbeaten 133 proved match winning at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The tri-series is a warm-up event before the eight-nation Champions Trophy starting February 19 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan, the third team in the tri-series, will play South Africa on Wednesday in Karachi to decide who meets New Zealand in the final at the same venue on Friday.

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, center, celebrates with Glenn Phillips after winning the tri-series ODI cricket match against South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

Williamson hit his first ODI century in nearly five years on Monday and was ably supported by opener Devon Conway who missed his century by just three runs.
The pair added a solid 187 runs for the second wicket after Will Young was dismissed for 19, steadily setting New Zealand’s second win in as many games in the tri-series.
“You need partnerships to chase targets and it was an outstanding knock from Conway and that partnership between him and Kane that led us to the win,” said New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner.
Williamson was so assured of finishing the game that the loss of Daryl Mitchell (10) and Tom Latham (nought) did not deter him as he hit the winning boundary to seal the win in 48.4 overs.

South Africa’s Mathew Breetzke, right, celebrates after scoring 150 runs as teammate Wiaan Mulderafter smiles during the tri-series ODI cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

Meanwhile a new record for the highest ODI score on debut was clinched by Breetzke, who smacked 11 fours and five sixes, topping the 148 scored by Desmond Haynes for West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 1978.
South Africa’s skipper Temba Bavuma said the record was among “some positives” in the match.
Breetzke hit New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke for a boundary to reach three figures off 128 balls, becoming the fourth player from his country to hit a century on ODI debut.

South Africa’s Tbraiz Shamsi, center, bowls as England’s umpire Richard Illingworth watches during the tri-series ODI cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

South Africa were forced to give four debuts in this match as their top players were either active in a Twenty20 league back home or recovering from injuries.
New Zealand brought in Conway for Rachin Ravindra who got injured in team’s 78-run win over Pakistan in Lahore on Saturday.