FiveOuncesofPain is reporting that Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (he is the son of the former United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan) has bought a minority share of the UFC.
The UFC is coming to Abu Dhabi in April for UFC 112. That event is rumored to feature a title fight between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort. Lightweight champion B.J. Penn is also rumored to be on the card as well as a fight between Renzo Gracie and Matt Hughes.
SBN coverage of UFC 112
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about 2 years ago
Zak Woods
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What does one call someone from the UAE, an Emaritian? Is the sport popular there or is it just the sheiks with money that like it?
I can hear the color commentary now:
“Renzo by armbar! Alalalalalalalalalalalalalalal!!!”
Pee-pee money is not an employment history.
I am not exactly clear on the way UAE business works but I am pretty sure you need the backing of an Emirati, which will take a cut, to make any kind money/build any kind of business in the UAE. My brother worked there running a busines that was “owned” by a Canadian but in fact the whole business unofficially owned by a rich Emirati that took a cut of the profits and played golf. I have a feeling Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was introduced to Zuffa to be their UAE sponsor and he said:“Tell you what, you need money, I have money, you do your event here in Abu Dhabi, and I take no cut of the profit but I will buy 10% of the company for X amount of dollars.” More or less, then the lawyers came in…
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