‘No fighter in the Arab world can beat me’: Kuwait’s Alaqraa warns Egypt’s El Dafrawy ahead of PFL MENA showdown

Kuwait’s Mohammad Alaqraa faces Egypt’s Omar El Dafrawy for the PFL MENA Welterweight Championship on Nov. 29 in Riyadh. (PFL)

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Updated 21 November 2024

Arab News

November 21, 2024 10:16

‘No fighter in the Arab world can beat me’: Kuwait’s Alaqraa warns Egypt’s El Dafrawy ahead of PFL MENA showdown

The two fighters first met in 2023 when Alaqraa won via unanimous decision

Updated 21 November 2024

Arab News

November 21, 2024 10:16

RIYADH: Two of the Middle East’s best 170-pounders will go head to head in the first-ever PFL MENA Championships on Nov. 29, as Kuwait’s Mohammad Alaqraa faces Omar El Dafrawy of Egypt in a highly anticipated rematch.

Alaqraa and El Dafrawy first crossed paths back in 2023, competing under the UAE Warriors promotion. Alaqraa won that meeting via unanimous decision and plans to raise his hands once again, this time for the inaugural PFL MENA Welterweight Championship.

“Omar has improved a lot since our last fight, but I have improved as well,” Alaqraa said. “There’s a difference between us in terms of skill level and fight tactics.

“I will beat him in a more dominant way than before.”

Since their first meeting, the undefeated Alaqraa has only added to his winning streak, pushing his professional record to 7-0. This includes two impressive victories in the inaugural PFL MENA season.

These performances have only boosted his belief in his own abilities.

“I’m confident that no fighter in the Arab world can beat me. Not Omar, not anyone else,” he said boldly.

While Alaqraa has a massive opportunity to score the biggest win of his young career, the 24-year old does not deny he is looking at the PFL MENA championship as a stepping stone to even bigger things.

“Winning the PFL MENA title is just the beginning of my journey towards global success, which is my ultimate goal,” Alaqraa explained. “To compete on the world stage, I need to be the best fighter in the Arab world, and that’s why I must defeat El Dafrawy and claim the title.”

And he had some strong words for El Dafrawy ahead of their upcoming match.

“You’ve never beaten strong fighters, and I’ll finish you with a knockout since that’s what you want,” Alaqraa declared. “You will never become a champion, so stop dreaming.”

The complete PFL MENA Championships fight card is as follows:

PFL MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdelrahman Alhyasat (5-0) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (9-2)

PFL MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (7-0) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (12-6)

Amateur Women’s Atomweight Bout: Hattan Alsaif vs. Lilia Osmani

PFL MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (11-1) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (15-3)

PFL MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (6-1) vs. Georges Eid (10-4)

Showcase Fights:

Lightweight MENA Showcase: Mansour Barnaoui (21-6) vs. Alfie Davis (17-4-1)

Heavyweight MENA Showcase: Slim Trabelsi (7-0) vs. Abraham Bably (5-0)

Featherweight Global Showcase: Jesus Pinedo (23-6-1) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (19-4)

Featherweight Global Showcase: Asael Adjoudj (8-1) vs. Jose Perez (9-1)

Middleweight Global Showcase: Costello van Steenis (15-3) vs. Joao Dantas (7-1)

The PFL MENA Championships can be seen live on MBC on Friday, Nov. 29 at 5.30 p.m. AGT. Tickets are now on sale via webook.com

Topics: Mixed martial arts PFL

Liverpool shine in Champions League, dumping Real Madrid down the table. Dortmund rise to 4th

Updated 28 November 2024

November 28, 2024 06:40

Liverpool shine in Champions League, dumping Real Madrid down the table. Dortmund rise to 4th

Only Liverpool have started the new Champions League format with five wins and first-year coach Arne Slot’s team are two points clear of Inter Milan
The best comeback was at PSV Eindhoven, where the home team trailed Shakhtar Donetsk by two goals in the 87th minute before a 3-2 win was sealed by US forward Ricardo Pepi’s goal deep in stoppage time

Updated 28 November 2024

November 28, 2024 06:40

LONDON: Liverpool are 100 percent on top of the Champions League after dumping title holders Real Madrid into an almost unbelievable 24th place in the 36-team standings on Wednesday.

No one felt the embarrassment of Madrid’s 2-0 loss at Anfield more than Kylian Mbappe, the superstar added in the offseason by the storied club that also was European champion against Liverpool in the finals of 2022 and 2018.

Mbappe had a penalty saved in the second half and was earlier dumped on his behind by Conor Bradley’s superb tackle in an instant viral moment.

Only Liverpool have started the new Champions League format with five wins and first-year coach Arne Slot’s team are two points clear of Inter Milan. Barcelona are third, trailing Liverpool by three points.

Madrid are, remarkably, with three rounds left just one place above being eliminated. The top eight teams at the end of January go direct to the round of 16 in March, and teams placed from ninth to 24th enter a round of two-leg playoffs in February.

“(This) doesn’t change much, because even with a win it was going to be tough to secure a top-eight finish,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. ”It was a fair result.”

Monaco missed a chance to go second in the table, giving up a lead playing with 10 men from the 58th minute in a 3-2 loss at home to Benfica. Swiss forward Zeki Amdouni scored the winning goal in the 88th.

Borussia Dortmund, the beaten finalists against Madrid in May, are up to fourth place after beating Dinamo Zagreb 3-0. Champions League standout Jamie Gittens now has four goals in five games, curling a rising shot in the 41st to open the scoring in Croatia.

The best comeback was at PSV Eindhoven, where the home team trailed Shakhtar Donetsk by two goals in the 87th minute before a 3-2 win was sealed by US forward Ricardo Pepi’s goal deep in stoppage time.

US defender Cameron Carter-Vickers scored an embarrassing own goal for Celtic — playing a no-look pass far beyond goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel — in a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge.

“One of those things,” Schmeichel said. “Cam gets pressed and he hasn’t heard me shout that I’m not in (goal).”

Congo teammates Ngal’Ayel Mukau and Silas impressed in wins for Lille and Red Star Belgrade.

Mukau scored twice in 12th-place Lille’s 2-1 win at Bologna and Silas leveled for Red Star in a 5-1 rout of Stuttgart, though he barely celebrated his goal. Silas is on loan with the Serbian champion from Stuttgart.

Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw with Juventus was preserved by an excellent save by Emiliano Martinez, the World Cup-winning Argentina goalkeeper, diving low to push away a header from Francisco Conceiçao.

Bradley beats Mbappe

Liverpool’s stand-in right back Bradley was a standout Wednesday, denying Mbappe at high speed in a signature defensive play in the 32nd.

The 21-year-old Northern Ireland defender, deputizing for fit-again Trent Alexander-Arnold, joined the attack in the 52nd to play a key pass returning the ball to Alexis Mac Allister who scored the opening goal.

After Mbappe’s penalty was pushed away by goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher in the 61st, Liverpool star Mo Salah missed with his spot-kick in the 70th, before substitute Cody Gakpo sealed the win with a header in the 77th.

Madrid now have lost three of five games after defeats at Lille and at home to AC Milan. The record 15-time European champions have another tough trip next, at fifth-place Atalanta on Dec. 10. On the same date, Liverpool are at 30th-place Girona and look to be cruising into the round of 16.

“You know how special it is to play against a team that has won the Champions League so many times,” Liverpool coach Slot said of Madrid. “They were a pain for Liverpool for many years too.”

First wins, first points

Red Star Belgrade and Sturm Graz ended four-game losing runs to get their first points and wins.

Red Star rallied against Stuttgart after the German team led in the fifth minute. The 1991 European Cup winner’s goal to level the game in the 12th was scored by on-loan Silas. He held up his hands as if in apology as part of a low-key celebration.

Sturm Graz won 1-0 against Girona, the Spanish newcomers to European competitions. It was the Austrian champions’ first Champions League game since coach Christian Ilzer left to join Hoffenheim.

Topics: football Liverpool UEFA Champions League

Mbappe misses penalty as Liverpool exact revenge on Real Madrid

Updated 28 November 2024

AFP

November 28, 2024 01:03

Mbappe misses penalty as Liverpool exact revenge on Real Madrid

Updated 28 November 2024

AFP

November 28, 2024 01:03

LIVERPOOL: Kylian Mbappe saw a penalty saved as Liverpool beat Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday to inflict a third Champions League defeat in five matches on the holders.
Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scored the goals in the second half as the Reds maintained their perfect record to return to the top of the table.
Mohamed Salah also fired wide from the spot, but it mattered little as Liverpool secured a 17th win in Arne Slot’s first 19 games in charge.
Slot has already achieved what Jurgen Klopp could not as Liverpool boss by slaying the Spanish giants.
Liverpool had a score to settle with Madrid, who were unbeaten in eight previous meetings between the sides, including Champions League finals against Klopp’s men in 2018 and 2022.
Defeat sends Carlo Ancelotti’s side tumbling down to 24th in the table.
Only the top 24 progress to the knockout stage with the top eight advancing directly to the last 16.
Liverpool are well on course to do just that and the confidence coursing through a side also eight points clear at the top of the Premier League was in evidence throughout in front of a highly-charged Anfield crowd.
Madrid were hamstrung by a lengthy injury list and made the trip to England without Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni and David Alaba.
Young center-back Raul Asencio has been pressed into action by those absences and he made a vital goal-line clearance on four minutes.
Darwin Nunez was sent in behind the Madrid defense by Salah and after his shot produced a fine save from Thibaut Courtois, Asencio reacted smartly to prevent the rebound bouncing off him and into his own net.
Courtois was Liverpool’s scourge with a man-of-the-match performance in the final two years ago as Madrid prevailed 1-0 in Paris.
The Belgian was at his best again as he blocked another big Nunez chance from point-blank range as the Liverpool pressure built without reward before the break.
Courtois was in sparkling form again at the start of the second period to parry Conor Bradley’s downward header.
But Liverpool were not to be denied as Bradley was this time the provider for Mac Allister, who manufactured the space for a shot into the far corner on 52 minutes.
The visitors were relying on Mbappe for a moment of magic in the absence of Vinicius, but the Frenchman was well-marshalled by his international team-mate Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk.
His chance to silence his critics arrived on the hour mark when Andy Robertson was harshly adjudged to have tripped Lucas Vazquez inside the area.
Caoimhin Kelleher has excelled in the absence of the injured Alisson Becker and leapt to his left to save Mbappe’s spot-kick.
Salah sparked a furor ahead of the game by declaring his disappointment with Liverpool’s failure to offer him a contract renewal.
The Egyptian has been in sparkling form this season and his pace and trickery fooled Ferland Mendy into a mistimed challenge.
Salah, though, gave Madrid a lifeline by firing his penalty off the outside of the post.
Liverpool had to wait just six more minutes for the cushion of a second goal as substitute Gakpo rose highest from a corner to power a header past Courtois.

Topics: UEFA Champions League Liverpool Real Madird

Amorim eyes victory in first Man Utd home game to kickstart new era

Updated 27 November 2024

AFP

November 27, 2024 22:19

Amorim eyes victory in first Man Utd home game to kickstart new era

The former Sporting Lisbon boss admitted after the draw at the weekend that United would “suffer for a long time” as he puts his stamp on the club

Updated 27 November 2024

AFP

November 27, 2024 22:19

LONDON: Ruben Amorim said struggling Manchester United need a win to kickstart his Old Trafford revolution as he prepares for a “special” first home match against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday.
United had a disappointing 1-1 draw at Ipswich on Sunday in Amorim’s first game in charge since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag, leaving them 12th in the Premier League table.
On Thursday they face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League after one win and three draws in their opening four matches in the competition.
“It is said to me that it will be a special time,” Amorim told his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. “I just want to win the game, just to give that happiness to the supporters.
“Before the match it will be like a new sensation but after the whistle it will be one more game and we want to win that match.”
Amorim, who changed United’s formation against Ipswich, said the club needed to feel “momentum.”
“It’s important when you are putting an idea,” he said. “If you win it’s a big help.”
The former Sporting Lisbon boss admitted after the draw at the weekend that United would “suffer for a long time” as he puts his stamp on the club.
And on Wednesday he admitted he did not know how long it would take players to get used to his methods, explaining it was difficult to draw parallels with his previous experiences.
“You can say that this is a different league so it’s harder than in Portugal,” he said. “But I also have more experienced players and all these guys play for national teams.
“They just need to increase their confidence and at the moment I don’t know how to answer that question. I don’t know how long.
“But I will know that with a lot of games without time to train it will be tough for me but it will be tougher for them because they are on the pitch and they will suffer a little bit.
“I will try to help and we have to manage to win some games and try to increase that idea in the team.”
Amorim said United had firepower in their ranks despite their lack of goals this season and that he would try to help out-of-form Marcus Rashford.
“We will try to find the right solution for him, as for the other players,” he said.
“He has to be Marcus, first of all, to try to return to that moment. Then he will have the help of all the staff, all the club and all the fans because he’s a Manchester United boy. But he has to be the first one to really want it.”

Topics: Ruben Amorim Man United

Israeli soccer team prepares for closed-door match in Hungary after attacks on fans in Amsterdam

Updated 27 November 2024

November 27, 2024 22:01

Israeli soccer team prepares for closed-door match in Hungary after attacks on fans in Amsterdam

The team will face off Thursday against Turkiye’s Besiktas in an Europa League match that was relocated to Hungary
Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Zarko Lazetic told a news conference on Wednesday that his team was focused on its game, regardless of what tensions may exist elsewhere

Updated 27 November 2024

November 27, 2024 22:01

DEBRECEN, Hungary: Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team returned to Europe on Wednesday for the first time since its fans were assaulted in the Netherlands earlier this month in attacks that were condemned as antisemitic by authorities in Israel and across Europe.
The team will face off Thursday against Turkiye’s Besiktas in an Europa League match that was relocated to Hungary. The contest at Nagyerdei Stadium in the city of Debrecen will be played without fans due to security concerns following the violence in Amsterdam on Nov. 7 that resulted in five people being treated in hospitals and dozens of detentions.
Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Zarko Lazetic told a news conference on Wednesday that his team was focused on its game, regardless of what tensions may exist elsewhere.
“It’s not a question for me what happened outside of the stadium. We saw some videos and everything, but we really try to focus on football,” he said. “We’ll see tomorrow what is the effect.”
The violence in Amsterdam came after local authorities banned pro-Palestinian demonstrators from gathering outside the stadium where Maccabi was playing Dutch team Ajax.
A large crowd of Israeli fans chanted anti-Arab slogans on their way to the match, video showed. Afterward, youths on scooters and on foot crisscrossed the city in search of Israeli fans, punching and kicking them, according to Amsterdam’s mayor.
The city’s police commander said the incidents had “an antisemitic character.”
Maccabi press officer Ofer Ronen-Abels said Wednesday the events in Amsterdam “had nothing to do with football.”
Before the assaults, Besiktas had requested its home game against Maccabi, originally scheduled for Istanbul, to be moved to “neutral ground” over security concerns.
The club later said on social media that Hungary was the only country willing to host the match and that Hungarian authorities requested it be played behind closed doors.
Hungary has hosted several home games for Israel’s national team for security reasons since the war in Gaza began.
Maccabi held its final practice session at the Kiryat Shalom training complex in Tel Aviv on Wednesday before departing for Hungary, the team said on its website.

Topics: Europa League Maccabi Tel Aviv Netherlands

Jeddah set for Fanatec GT World Challenge race

Updated 27 November 2024

SALEH FAREED

November 27, 2024 19:15

Jeddah set for Fanatec GT World Challenge race

Anticipated SAL Jeddah Race, which will be held for the first time in the Kingdom on Nov. 29-30, will feature two major motorsport races and cover 1,000 km
Iconic manufacturers taking part include Porsche, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes AMG, BMW M Sport, Audi Sport and Ford

Updated 27 November 2024

SALEH FAREED

November 27, 2024 19:15

JEDDAH: Jeddah is all set for the final round of the 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe on Friday when a 49-car field tackles a six-hour Endurance Cup race at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The anticipated SAL Jeddah Race, which will be held for the first time in the Kingdom on Nov. 29-30, will feature two major motorsport races and cover 1,000 km, making it the longest circuit race in Saudi history.

Iconic manufacturers taking part include Porsche, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes AMG, BMW M Sport, Audi Sport and Ford.

The GT4 European Series, supported by RAFA Racing Club, will feature four competitive categories, promising an exciting spectacle for motorsport enthusiasts in Saudi Arabia:

Pro: A showcase for the world’s finest drivers and teams vying for top honors.

Gold: Designed to cultivate and elevate emerging driving talents.

Silver: A competitive platform featuring a mix of amateur and semi-professional drivers.

Bronze: A unique category combining experienced professionals with promising young drivers, offering a valuable learning experience.

Saudi Logistics Services, the official title sponsor for the Jeddah GT Race 2024, announced on Monday the arrival of more than 70 cars from the ports of Barcelona and Valencia in Spain to the port of Jeddah.

The SAL Jeddah GT Race is an endurance racing event that encourages drivers to push their maximum limits and test their stamina, strategy and reliability throughout the intense competition.

The event’s fan zone includes live entertainment and fun activities for families, as well as food festivals.

Topics: SAL Jeddah GT Race

‘No fighter in the Arab world can beat me’: Kuwait’s Alaqraa warns Egypt’s El Dafrawy ahead of PFL MENA showdown

‘No fighter in the Arab world can beat me’: Kuwait’s Alaqraa warns Egypt’s El Dafrawy ahead of PFL MENA showdown

Saudi’s Al-Qahtani faces Jordan’s Alhyasat as 4 champions to be crowned in first PFL MENA Championships

PFL MENA vice president hails region’s ‘remarkable’ MMA talent

Liverpool shine in Champions League, dumping Real Madrid down the table. Dortmund rise to 4th

Liverpool shine in Champions League, dumping Real Madrid down the table. Dortmund rise to 4th

Mbappe misses penalty as Liverpool exact revenge on Real Madrid

Salah ‘in a good place’ at Liverpool despite contract impasse, says Slot

Mbappe misses penalty as Liverpool exact revenge on Real Madrid

Mbappe misses penalty as Liverpool exact revenge on Real Madrid

Salah ‘in a good place’ at Liverpool despite contract impasse, says Slot

Lewandowski hits Champions League century as Barca beat Brest

Amorim eyes victory in first Man Utd home game to kickstart new era

Amorim eyes victory in first Man Utd home game to kickstart new era

Ruben Amorim has declared his mission for Man United

Man United off to worst Premier League start after Chelsea draw

Israeli soccer team prepares for closed-door match in Hungary after attacks on fans in Amsterdam

Israeli soccer team prepares for closed-door match in Hungary after attacks on fans in Amsterdam

Thousands of police officers but few visiting fans for France-Israel match after Amsterdam violence

Dutch ruling coalition narrowly survives fallout of Ajax-Maccabi Tel Aviv football violence

Jeddah set for Fanatec GT World Challenge race

Jeddah set for Fanatec GT World Challenge race

Jeddah Corniche Circuit to host SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 on Nov. 29-30

Excitement builds for SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024

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‘No fighter in the Arab world can beat me’: Kuwait’s Alaqraa warns Egypt’s El Dafrawy ahead of PFL MENA showdown

‘No fighter in the Arab world can beat me’: Kuwait’s Alaqraa warns Egypt’s El Dafrawy ahead of PFL MENA showdown

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