Rising Emirati MMA fighter Zamzam Al-Hammadi signs with PFL MENA
17-year-old has won youth world championships in MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and will compete in PFL amateur showcase bouts
Updated 24 April 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: The Professional Fighters League has signed Zamzam Al-Hammadi, a rising MMA star from the UAE.
“I’m happy that I’ve signed with PFL MENA and it’s a pleasure for me to be part of the PFL family,” said Al-Hammadi after the recent announcement.
“I’m happy to represent my country on a global stage like the PFL and Inshallah, God will help me to achieve all my dreams.”
Al-Hammadi, 17, is a decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA competitor with titles at the IMMAF Youth World Championships and the JJIF World Youth Championships in 2023.
She currently has a 2-0 record in amateur MMA.
Al-Hammadi comes from a family of martial artists. Her mother, Nada Al-Nuaymi, is a judo and jiu-jitsu practitioner, while her sister Ghala is also a decorated grappler and MMA fighter
“We’re thrilled to bring in one of the fastest rising young stars, not just in the Middle East but also in the world, in Zamzam Al-Hammadi,” said Jerome Mazet, general manager of PFL MENA.
“At such a young age, Zamzam already has world championship experience, and we’re excited to have her on the PFL MENA roster.
“One of the goals of PFL MENA is to be able to showcase homegrown talent, and there’s no better example than Zamzam, who’s going to be a huge inspiration to all the aspiring young talents from the UAE and the Middle East.
“We cannot wait to see what she can do inside the world-famous PFL SmartCage.”
Al-Hammadi will compete in amateur showcase bouts in the upcoming PFL MENA season.
She follows in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia’s Hattan Alsaif, who became the first female from the country to sign with a major MMA promotion in 2024.
PSG’s Champions League hero Doue says ‘dream becomes reality’
The 19-year-old lit up scored twice and provided an assist as PSG routed Inter Milan 5-0
German police have to hold back PSG fans as they tried to rush the field
Updated 5 sec ago
AFP AP
MUNICH, Germany: Paris Saint-Germain’s double goal-scoring hero Desire Doue said “a dream has become reality” after Saturday’s Champions League triumph.
The 19-year-old lit up Munich’s Allianz Arena, scoring twice and providing an assist as PSG routed Inter Milan 5-0.
“I don’t have the words,” said the French teenager.
Paris Saint-Germain's Desire Doue, right, scores his side's third goal. (AP)
“Thanks to the Parc (des Princes, PSG’s home stadium), thanks Paris.
“A dream has become reality. It’s just magnificent. It’s crazy, I’m so happy.
“It’s just the beginning.”
PSG have been guided to the continental crown for the first time in their history by Spanish coach Luis Enrique.
“It’s time to have a big party,” said Luis Enrique, who also won the Champions League with Barcelona 10 years ago.
“We have to make the most of this moment,” added the 55-year-old.
“I feel this connection with the players and the supporters, it’s very strong. It’s a great moment, we deserve it. We managed to control the tension.”
PSG players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP)
Unruly fans held back
Thousands of euphoric PSG fans had to be held back by a line of police they tried to rush the field in jubilation.
Police lined up in front of the PSG end of the Allianz Arena stadium at the final whistle but struggled to contain the fans for several minutes when they came down from the stands following the trophy presentation.
They did eventually manage to force them back into the stands, and PSG players had already headed back to the locker room, appearing to cut short celebrations in front of their supporters.
Players eventually made their way back to the field with the trophy after order was restored.
PSG fans dominated the occasion, drowning out Inter supporters, many of whom had left long before the final whistle after seeing their team blown away by the French champion.
The sixth seed will face 81st-ranked Cameron Norrie for a spot in the quarter-finals
Updated 01 June 2025
AFP
PARIS: Novak Djokovic was in a hurry on Saturday as the 24-time Grand Slam winner dismissed world number 153 Filip Misolic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to book his place spot in the last 16 at Roland Garros.
The three-time French Open champion needed just over two hours to beat his Austrian opponent in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Djokovic had previously joked that he was not keen on potentially playing the late match on center court on Saturday as it would overlap with the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan.
“It’s going to be PSG that I will support. I will definitely watch it if I’m not playing night session,” said AC Milan fan Djokovic.
“Yeah, that will be nice. FYI, Roland Garros schedule...”
With the umpire obliged to request excited local spectators concentrate on the match happening in front of them, the Serb was likely in little doubt as to the situation of the football match taking place in Munich.
But Djokovic put his quest for a record-breaking 25th major title firmly to the forefront of his mind as he overwhelmed Misolic with a typically clinical performance.
“I think I was solid in the important moments across the three sets,” said Djokovic who praised his opponent with whom he regularly practices.
“I would like you to give him a big round of applause,” he requested of the crowd in Paris.
The 38-year-old faced only one break point, which he saved, while hitting just 14 unforced errors to 33 winners.
The sixth seed will face 81st-ranked Cameron Norrie for a spot in the quarter-finals, after the former top 10 Brit earlier beat his compatriot Jacob Fearnley in straight sets.
Brilliant PSG demolish Inter Milan to win first Champions League title
Qatari-owned club thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in the most one-sided final in the competition’s history
PSG's teenage midfielder Desire Doue was the star of the night, delivering a masterclass by scoring twice
Updated 21 min 12 sec ago
AFP
MUNICH, Germany: Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time in their history as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter Milan on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever and teenager Desire Doue scored twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory.
Achraf Hakimi, playing against his former club, gave PSG an early lead and Doue went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled their advantage in the 20th minute.
Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu made it five.
PSG midfielder Desire Doue scores his team's third goal. (AP)
Inter were simply no match for the French club, who recorded the biggest victory by any team in the final in the 70-year history of the European Cup and Champions League.
“This means everything. It’s my dream, it’s our dream. It’s incredible. The result is not by magic. I’m happy we did it like this, we’re now going to celebrate,” said Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, who was one of PSG’s creative sparks.
The triumph for the Parisians comes after more than a decade of huge investment from their Qatari owners, and five years after they lost to Bayern Munich in their only previous final appearance.
Already French league and cup double winners, they are remarkably just the second ever French winners of European football’s biggest prize — Marseille were the first in 1993, when they beat AC Milan in a final also played in Munich.
It is also a second Champions League for PSG coach Luis Enrique, who won with Lionel Messi’s Barcelona a decade ago.
This youthful PSG side is the best the competition has seen since, one that has been intelligently pieced together over the last two years and fully unleashed this season following the departure of Kylian Mbappe.
Indeed the star on the night was teenager Doue, who delivered a masterclass just before he turns 20 on Tuesday.
For Inter, there was to be no first Champions League title since 2010 as they failed to add to their three previous triumphs in the competition.
Simone Inzaghi’s side have now got to the final twice in three seasons and lost both, and this defeat comes a week after they missed out on the Serie A title to Napoli.
They end the campaign trophyless, and their aging side will need to be rebuilt.
Taking no chances
PSG gave their opponents no chance from the off on a sweaty night at the Allianz Arena, and they were ahead in the 12th minute.
It was a glorious goal, Vitinha threading a pass to Doue who squared for Hakimi to finish into an empty net, before refusing to celebrate against his former club.
It was also the earliest goal in a Champions League final since 2019, and recent history was already firmly against Inter.
The last final in which both teams scored was in 2018, while the last team to concede the first goal but still win were Real Madrid in 2014.
But soon Inter were further behind with a goal that came on a counterattack.
Willian Pacho prevented Inter from winning a corner, his clearance falling to Kvaratskhelia, who released Ousmane Dembele. His pass found Doue, and the youngster who was preferred in the starting line-up to Bradley Barcola fired past Yann Sommer, via a deflection off Federico Dimarco.
PSG's Ecuadoran defender #51 Willian Pacho (L) and Inter Milan's French forward #09 Marcus Thuram fight for the ball in front of Portuguese midfielder #87 Joao Neves. (AFP)
Inter only really came close to scoring in the first half when Marcus Thuram headed just wide at a corner, but things got worse after the break.
The night for Inzaghi’s side was summed up by defender Yann Bisseck, who came on for Benjamin Pavard early in the second half but limped off less than 10 minutes later.
Their back line was at sixes and sevens as PSG made it 3-0 on 63 minutes, Dembele’s flick releasing Vitinha before the little Portuguese playmaker set up Doue to beat Sommer at his near post.
Doue came off shortly after to rapturous applause, but his teammates were far from done.
Dembele sent Kvaratskhelia away to to make it 4-0 in the 73rd minute, and the 19-year-old Mayulu then played a one-two with Barcola before lashing in the fifth on 86 minutes.
That rounded off an incredible night, with PSG becoming the first team to score five goals in the final since Benfica in 1962.
PSG fans display banner calling for end to ‘genocide’ in Gaza during Champions League final
PSG fans are known for their stance against the war in Gaza
The latest banner was likely to lead to disquiet among local authorities in Munich
Updated 31 May 2025
AP
MUNICH: Paris Saint-Germain supporters displayed a banner saying “Stop genocide in Gaza” during the Champions League final on Saturday.
They raised it shortly after Achraf Hakimi gave their team a 1-0 lead against his former side Inter Milan in the 12th minute. Désiré Doué scored PSG’s second after the banner was raised for a 2-0 halftime lead.
A powerful message from PSG fans during tonight’s Champions League final.
PSG fans are known for their stance against the war in Gaza. They previously displayed a giant banner saying “Free Palestine” in November during the Champions League match against Atlético Madrid.
The latest banner was likely to lead to disquiet among local authorities in Munich. Munich’s city hall displays an Israeli flag as well as a Ukrainian one, and German support for Israel is strong for historical reasons.
PSG could also face a fine. UEFA bans the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit a provocative message that is judged not fit for a sports event, particularly provocative messages that are of a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature.
Financial penalties are typical for a first offense — 10,000 euros ($10,700) for a political banner or disturbances.
Israel’s nearly three-month blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. It has allowed some aid to enter in recent days, but aid organizations say far from enough is getting in.
The UN World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high.
The Federal Road Safety Corps said the afternoon crash “might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed“
The athletes were returning from the 22nd National Sports Festival
Updated 31 May 2025
AFP
ABUJA: A bus crash on a Nigerian highway on Saturday killed 21 athletes returning from a national sports tournament, with authorities saying the accident might have been the result of driver fatigue or excessive speed.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the afternoon crash, which did not involve other vehicles, “might have occurred as a result of fatigue and excessive speed” after a long overnight trip.
The athletes were returning to Kano, in Nigeria’s north, from the 22nd National Sports Festival, held around 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) to the south in Ogun state.
22 people from the Kano State delegation to Ogun State for the National Sports Festival have been confirmed dead after a fatal bus accident on their way back to Kano.
35 passengers were in the vehicle that plunged into a bridge at Kura LGA in Kano.
— #OurFavOnlineDoc (@OurFavOnlineDoc) May 31, 2025
President Bola Tinubu had recently said the games, which included sports ranging from wheelchair basketball to traditional west African wrestling, represented “the unity, strength and resilience that define us as a nation.”
Road accidents are common on Nigeria’s poorly maintained roads due largely to speeding and a disregard for traffic rules.
Last year Nigeria recorded 9,570 road accidents that resulted in 5,421 deaths, according to FRSC data.
