Perth: For Islam Makhachev, professional lightweight mixed martial artiste from Russia, it was a double victory over Alexander Volkanovski of Australia here, when he won the final of the UFC on Sunday.

A win over the defending UFC champion earned Makhachev the UFC 284 title. Simultaneously, the 31-year-old martial artiste was crowned the World No 1 replacing Volkanovski, following the Sunday victory.

The final in Perth was a close battle between the two, with Volkanovski showing a lot of confidence in his hands while using good footwork to set up his combinations and keep Makhachev on the outside. He kept stunning his opponent on many occasions on the feet. Makhachev, however, retaliated efficiently, adding a few knockdowns of his own and using his suffocating ground game.

When the fight ended, the judges awarded scores of 49-46, 48-47, 48-47. For Volkanovski, this is also the first loss of his UFC career.

It was a tough fight for Makhachev, but the 31-year-old progeny of Abdulmanap and Khabib Nurmagomedov proved that he was indeed the best lightweight fighter. This being his 12 consecutive win, he also called out to the other lightweight fighters to upgrade and give him a better fight.

“I show why I’m No. 1. They have to improve more. You like or you don’t like but I am the best fighter in the world right now,” said the new World No 1, adding a word of gratitude to his opponent, “Thank you Alex. It was a very good fight. I need some tough fights. I have to improve. I think he’s going to be easy on the ground but this guy improved a lot. I need tough fights.”

Runner-up Volkanovski displayed a sportsman spirit, in spite of not getting the result he had hoped for. “Obviously a lot of people are going to be happy with that because they never gave me a chance,” the fighter said. “I knew I prepared properly, it was a fun fight. Congrats to Islam.”

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Bahrain: Dr. Arathi Krishna, Vice President of the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Forum, Government of Karnataka, participated as the Guest of Honour at the prestigious Global Women’s Economic Forum and Exhibition held on January 13, 2025 in Bahrain.

The international event, known for its pivotal role in empowering women entrepreneurs and professionals, provided a unique platform for showcasing business innovations and fostering leadership among women.

During the event, Dr. Krishna emphasized the significance of women’s contributions to entrepreneurship and technological advancements. She noted that the forum's dynamic workshops, panel discussions, and expert speeches offered specialized insights into innovative practices, financial management, and the adoption of new technologies. These knowledge-sharing opportunities are designed to support emerging women entrepreneurs, enabling them to thrive in a competitive global marketplace.

Highlighting the transformative power of such initiatives, Dr. Krishna remarked on the growing achievements of women entrepreneurs in traditionally male-dominated sectors. She acknowledged that the event not only celebrated success stories from across the globe but also inspired young women to pursue entrepreneurship and leadership roles. The participation of women-led businesses from diverse nations underscored the universal nature of entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.

Dr. Krishna also engaged in thoughtful discussions with successful women leaders and interacted with representatives of various Kannada associations in Bahrain. She reiterated her appeal to the global NRI Kannada community to strive for excellence and greater accomplishments in their respective fields.