Islam Makhachev delivers heartwarming gesture after becoming new lightweight champion at UFC 280
Gives belt to his cousin, coach Khabib; says "him and his father made me"
Abu Dhabi: Islam Makhachev of Russia won the lightweight title of the UFC 280 pulling off a brilliant victory against Brazilian Charles Oliveira at the Etihad Arena on Saturday.
Makhachev who defeated Oliveira with an arm triangle choke win. Oliveira, who lost the lightweight topper title in May, holds the UFC record for submission wins, with 16, reported Hindustan Times.
The former champion mostly defended himself and also tried to win with submissions off his back against Makhachev in the first round. In the second round, however, Oliveira tried to continue the fight on his feet. Oliveira began the second round with a kick to Makhachev’s face. The Russian fought back with a double under hook, holding Oliveira for about 30 seconds, before knocking his rival down with a powerful jab. The new champion defeated Oliveira pinning him down and putting in an arm choke.
Makhachev, 31, dedicated his victory to his late coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who died in 2020. “He told me many years ago to train hard and I would be champion,” said the new champion, before handing the belt to Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is himself a former UFC lightweight champion and took over from his father as Makhachev’s coach.
With his 11th submission win, Makhachev recorded 23 wins and one loss as a professional lightweight mixed martial artiste.
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Catholic Bishops' body slams Bhagwat's remarks
New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on Thursday slammed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his reported remark that Pranab Mukherjee, when he was President, had said tribals would turn "anti-national" if there is no "ghar wapsi"Catholic Bishops.'
In a statement issued here, CBCI, a body of Catholic Bishops, referred to reports which said Bhagwat, at an event on Monday, claimed that Mukherjee, while he was President had appreciated ghar wapsi and told him that had it not been for the Sangh's work on reconversion, a section of Adivasis would have turned "anti-national".The CBCI called the report "shocking".
"Fabricated personal conversation being attributed to a former president of India and its posthumous publication with the vested interest of an organization with questionable credibility raises a grave issue of national importance," the CBCI claimed.
"Is it not the violent ghar wapsi program of VHP and other similar organizations, curtailing the exercise of freedom of conscience of economically deprived tribals, the real anti-national activity?" it asked.
'Ghar wapsi' is a term used by the RSS and affiliated organisations to refer to reconversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism, based on the belief that they were originally Hindus before converting to other religions.
The CBCI also questioned why Bhagwat did not speak about it while Mukherjee was alive.
"We, the 2.3 percent of Indian citizens who are Christians feel extremely hurt by such manipulated and motivated propaganda unleashed," it said.
In a post on X following the statement issued by CBCI, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said, "Speak up. This is a start!"
"Bishops body have issued a statement condemning remarks made by Dr Mohan Bhagwat and RSS for defaming the Christian community," he said.
O'Brien added that they should ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi more questions, including why Christmas Day has been turned into "Good Governance Day".
The TMC leader, in a blogpost earlier this month, had said "hard questions" must be asked to the government with regards to the Christian community, including why the FCRA has been 'weaponised', and why has Manipur been 'ignored'.
