The UAE-founded halal football prediction app giving fans more ‘skin in the game'
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The National
2 days ago
- The National
James Llontop eyes UAE Warriors welterweight title and eventual UFC return
UAE Warriors swings into action this week, just days before UFC Fight Night returns to Abu Dhabi. The capital promotion is back with a double-header over two nights at Space42 Arena in Al Raha that includes Jordanian fighter Ali Al Qaisi lining up a record third title. On Wednesday's UAE Warriors 61 card, former featherweight title-holder Al Qaisi tackles bantamweight champion Sylvester Chipfumbo of Zimbabwe for the inaugural intercontinental featherweight belt. In Thursday's UAE Warriors 62, Khotam Boynazarov defends his welterweight title against promotion debutant James Llontop from Peru. Llontop, 25, was released by UFC after three defeats but has bounced back since then with back-to-back victories in the Fusion Fight Championship. He overcame Brazilian Yuri Neles by unanimous decision in his first fight since being released by the UFC before registering a second-round TKO against Argentina's Dante Romero to win the FFC welterweight title. Now Llontop, who holds a 16-5 mixed martial arts record, is looking to continue that momentum by claiming another strap that he hopes will one day lead to a recall to the UFC. 'I'm happy with the opportunity to fight for another title for a new promotion and a first appearance in Abu Dhabi,' Llontop told The National through a translator on the sidelines of the pre-fight presser at the Palms Sports headquarters. 'I'm prepared to fight for any promotion around the world. In the UAE Warriors, in One Championship, in the PFL, but my real motivation is to go back to UFC and perhaps fight for a title. 'Competing in the UFC was one of the best experiences in my life. It really made me a more mature athlete and fighter, and now I'm more than ready for new challenges. 'Of course, I was sad when I was released by UFC. It taught me a lot of things, and that's the way it works in a professional set-up. I accept that decision from the organisation.' Boynazarov presents a formidable obstacle to Llontop's ambitions. The Uzbek is undefeated in 10 fights and is riding high after claiming a unanimous decision over Tahir Abdullaev last October to claim the UAE Warriors welterweight title. 'It's a really tough fight for both of us. He's going to try to use his grappling, I'm trying to use my striking,' Llontop said of the champion. 'The one that performs the best in the first moment is going to be the one who would get into the rhythm of the fight.' Llontop first started training in combat sports age 10 with dreams of one day fighting for the world's lead MMA promotion, the UFC. He began as an amateur 10 years ago, and made up his mind he would pursue a career as a fighter full-time. 'I finished high school and had made up my mind to become a pro fighter. I didn't pursue anything else other than training MMA.' Llontop is married and has a four-year-old son whose name (Tadeo) is tattooed on his forehead over his right eye. A stable home life helps keep him grounded, he says. 'I spend most of my free time with my son and wife, my sisters, mum and dad,' he said. 'Peru is known for its food, so we like to go eat and sometimes go to the cinema, nothing spectacular.' Llontop arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday night. 'The weather is really hot," he joked, "but we're used to extreme things back in Peru." Llontop says he plans to stay in Abu Dhabi for Saturday's UFC Fight Night, backing Reinier de Ridder to come out on top against the former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. 'It will be a really good fight, but I think RDR appears to have the edge. He's in great shape and form.'
Fintech News ME
2 days ago
- Fintech News ME
Qatar Islamic Fintech Sector Hits US$2.7B, Set to Reach US$4.4B by 2028
Qatar, a key player in the regional and global Islamic finance industry, is experiencing strong growth in its Islamic fintech sector. This momentum is projected to continue through 2028, with the industry expected to expand at an annual growth rate of 10%, according to a new report by Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Qatar's Islamic fintech transaction volume reached nearly QAR 10 billion (US$2.7 billion) in 2024, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26% from QAR 3 billion (US$824 million) in 2020. Volumes are projected to reach QAR 16 billion (US$4.4 billion) by 2028. According to the report, payments and enabling technologies currently stand as the largest segments of Qatar's Islamic fintech market in terms of the number of companies. This reflects the rising popularity of e-commerce, mobile wallets, and contactless payment solutions. Meanwhile, enabling technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) are playing a critical role in modernizing Qatar's financial services sector and enhance the overall financial infrastructure. The digital assets and blockchain segments are also growing in importance, underscoring the region's push to integrate advanced financial instruments within the framework of Islamic finance. Blockchain, in particular, is seen as an attractive technology for enhancing transparency and security, key pillars that align with Islamic finance's emphasis on ethical and transparent financial practices. Strategic initiatives The growth of fintech in Qatar has been underpinned by a series of strategic initiatives and supportive measures. The Qatar Fintech Hub (QFTH), founded by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) in collaboration with the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) in 2020, was created to foster innovation and growth in the fintech sector. The hub supports fintech startups through its incubator and accelerator programs, and provides startups with essential resources, including mentorship and network opportunities. In the same year, the central bank launched a regulatory sandbox for promising fintech solutions, enabling faster market entry, reduced testing periods, and a more streamlined evaluation process. In 2023, the QCB launched the Qatar Fintech Strategy to enhance the competitiveness of its financial sector. The strategy targets several key segments, including digital payments, regtech, insurtech, wealthtech, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, and cybersecurity, and prioritizes developing a pioneering infrastructure and a supportive environment for fintech. The QFC Digital Assets Lab was launched the same year, providing a platform for innovation, research, and development within the field of distributed ledger technology (DLT). Separately, the QCB has made significant progress on its central bank digital currency (CBDC) project, completing the infrastructure for the digital currency and commencing its first pilot in 2024. Supportive regulations In addition to these initiatives, the central bank has introduced a range of regulations designed to accelerate the digital transformation of the financial services industry and expand the scope of fintech solutions in Qatar. These regulations include the Payment Services Regulation, introduced in 2021 to formalize the licensing and supervision of payment service providers; the E-KYC Regulations issued in 2023 to streamline customer onboarding and verification processes through electronic methods, enhancing security and efficiency in identity verification; DLT Guidelines, published in July 2024 to provide a clear regulatory framework for the use of distributed ledger technology in the financial sector; and the Artificial Intelligence Guidelines, issued in September 2024. Other notable regulations issued in 2024 include the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Regulations, which set licensing requirements and consumer protection measures for such providers, and the Loan-Based Crowdfunding Regulation, which aims facilitate short-term financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through innovative financial platforms. BNPL, blockchain, digital banking among top trends The report also highlights emerging trends and opportunities shaping Qatar's Islamic fintech landscape. First, it emphasizes the potential of BNPL services. Islamic finance principles, which prohibit interest and emphasize ethical lending, align well with the BNPL model's interest-free structure. By integrating BNPL services within a Shariah-compliant framework, fintech companies in Qatar can deliver compelling solutions that combine financial inclusivity with adherence to Islamic principles. Digital-only Islamic banking is another growing trend, with the number of digital-only Islamic banks in the region increasing. This industry is being driven by robust digital infrastructure and growing demand for Shariah-compliant financial services. In Qatar, the opportunities for setting up digital-only banks are promising, supported by a conducive regulatory environment and a high level of digital adoption among the population. Furthermore, the central bank has introduced several regulatory enablers to facilitate the entry of new digital fintech players, including a digital bank regulatory framework. Another trend outlined in the report is the potential of blockchain to create new avenues for growth and resilience in the Islamic finance industry. For example, blockchain can facilitate Shariah-compliant microfinance services, lowering transaction costs and broadening access to financial services. The technology can also improve the efficiency and transparency of Zakat and Sadaqah transactions, which are both forms of charity, ensuring that funds are swiftly and accurately distributed to those in need. Additionally, blockchain can be leveraged for more efficient issuance and trading of sukuk, which are Shariah-compliant financial certificates similar to bonds, increasing their liquidity and attractiveness to investors. Qatar is a prominent player in the global Islamic finance scene, with total assets in the country reaching QAR 694 billion (US$191 billion) by the end of 2024. According to the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), the global Islamic financial services industry reached US$3.8 trillion in total assets in 2024, meaning that Qatar accounted for approximately 5% of the global market share.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Max Holloway spoils Dustin Poirier's retirement sendoff with decision win
The trilogy fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier may not have been a microcosm of their first two encounters, but it delivered an electrifying final 15 seconds when Holloway and the retiring Poirier traded blows in Round 5. The result was a victory for lightweight Holloway by unanimous decision on the three judges' cards — 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 — at UFC 318 in New Orleans on Saturday night. Holloway (27-8 MMA) was classy in victory against Poirier, as he had lost the first two fights of the series before returning the favour in Louisiana native Poirier's last MMA bout. "The baddest man alive, bro," said Holloway, 33. "Give it up for Dustin Poirier." A first-round knockdown from the Hawaiian set the tone early as Holloway nearly finished Poirier (30-10) but his 36-year-old opponent persevered. By Round 4, Poirier had little energy left but admitted post-fight that he was impressed that the former featherweight champion Holloway's striking was still as sharp as ever. According to the final stats on the broadcast, Holloway outlanded Poirier 113-99 in significant head strikes. "I thought he was going to be in here cracking a little bit harder, which he was," Poirier said of Holloway. "This guy is tough to deal with when he's in front of you. He's slick. He's crafty. He's fast. He's the (BMF) champ. I got nothing but respect for Max, man. He's one of the good guys." Holloway made his first defense of the "BMF" title a successful one since winning it last April at UFC 300. It is unclear what direction the belt takes, as it is not associated with a division and has been used infrequently since November 2019 Paulo Costa of Brazil got back in the win column with a unanimous decision over Roman Kopylov, utilising his boxing to sweep the cards 30-27, 30-27, 29-28. Costa (15-4) remains in the middleweight title picture, while Kopylov (14-4) had won his last two fights. The next two fights also saw another string of decisions with welterweight Daniel Rodriguez outlasting Kevin Holland despite a late rally from Holland nearly finishing him in Round 3 with strikes. The cards read 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, as Holland (28-14) was another betting favourite at the expense of Rodriguez (20-5). Patricio Pitbull earned his first UFC victory with a win by unanimous decision over featherweight Dan Ige by identical 29-28 scores. Pitbull's wrestling was too much for Ige, who entered the fight having lost two of his last three fights. Pitbull (37-8) last fought in April at UFC 314, where Ige (19-10) earned a win on the same card. UFC 318's pay-per-view got underway with lightweight Michael Johnson earning a unanimous decision in an upset of Daniel Zellhuber. The 39-year-old Johnson (24-19) was a significant underdog entering the fight but won the cards with matching 29-28 scores. A second-round knockdown swung the fight in Johnson's favor, as Zellhuber (15-3) now has lost back-to-back outings.
