What happened next was not part of the plan.

After the fight was halted in the second round by the cageside physician due to a cut on AlQaisi, all hell broke lose. An enraged AlQaisi, upset at losing his title due to a doctor’s stoppage, appeared to instigate a post-fight fracas that ended in Arnett hopping out of the cage.

Initially, the victorious Arnett appears to offer his sympathies, while AlQaisi had words with the referee, making a belt motion around his waist. Arnett and AlQaisi then came together as officials and corners entered the cage, with one official getting between the fighters. A clearly agitated AlQaisi then lunged towards Arnett, with the two exchanging words until Arnett jumped the fence, having what appeared to be a rough landing.

All hell breaking loose at UAE Warriors after Ali AlQaisi loses his belt by cut stoppage to Jesse Arnett. pic.twitter.com/hKGlva7NL6

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 2, 2022

The broadcast team implored all involved to be professional throughout, not that it appeared to have any effect.

Cageside Press has reached out to the promotion regarding today’s incident. Jesse Arnett, meanwhile, had said in advance of the fight that he had hoped to win the featherweight title Saturday, then defend it sometime this fall. Depending on any disciplinary action etc., there’s a chance they may want to run this one back.

Update, 07/03/022 — UAE Warriors officials confirmed to Cageside Press that Arnett is uninjured, and that the incident will be reviewed in the coming days.

The post Chaos Erupts at UAE Warriors 30 After Jesse Arnett Wins Featherweight Title appeared first on Cageside Press.

Now, at 38, the longtime veteran is set to challenge UFC vet Ali AlQaisi for the UAE Warriors featherweight championship this weekend.

For Arnett (19-8), it’s a return to featherweight, where he last fought roughly five years ago — but after spending most of his career as a bantamweight, he excepts the move to be permanent.

“I’m done making bantamweight. I’ve literally been making that weight class since my first year of university,” Arnett told Cageside Press in a recent exclusive interview.

Arnett will still cut weight to make 145, mind you. “I can weigh 160, 165. In shape, I’m about 157, 158. I’m the perfect size for this division.”

In AlQaisi, Arnett has an opponent he sees as another tough guy, one who has some experience, and is durable. That said, he sees it as a favourable match-up. “I think I’m better everywhere. I know I’m better everywhere. I’m a better boxer, I’m a better wrestler, I have a better ground game. I’ve got to watch out for a Hail Mary shot; he can’t beat me on the cards. This is my fight to win. I’ve just got to be patient, I’ve tightened up a lot of things, I’ve got a great team behind me right now. I feel I can get him out of there inside of 15 minutes.”

Arnett does believe his upcoming opponent is a good grappler. “He’s got a good guillotine. He’s strong on the body lock. His best quality is, he gets better as the fight goes on too,” Arnett acknowledged. Not that he expects it to make a difference. “Has he fought guys inside the top 30 like I have? No. I’m the toughest guy he’s ever fought by the long shot.”

What Arnett is excited for is that AlQasi is a game, durable fighter — which means he can get in there and “have a good knock with the champ.”

Ali AlQasi is far from the first UFC alum Jesse Arnett is faced. Over the years, he’s squared off against Ray Borg, Nate Maness, Darrick Minner, Johnny Bedford, Roman Delorme, and other talented fighters including Bellator’s Josh Hill.

He’s won some, he’s lost some, but as he noted, “all those guys I’ve lost to, we run that fight back, it’s a pick ’em.”

In 2017, however, Arnett came close to hitting the big time: signed by the largest mixed martial arts promotion in the world. “I was 15 wins and four losses, and I did get signed to the UFC. And unfortunately the promoter that I was with at the time did not let me out,” Arnett noted. “And then I lost to Nate Maness and I lost to Josh Hill. Hat’s off, both good fighters, both good guys. And like I said earlier, you run me and Josh back right now, I can win that fight. You run me and Nathan back right now, I can win that fight. So I’m not going anywhere right now at my age.”

Still, at 38, Arnett is focused on the title in front of him, rather than worrying about making the jump to a big promotion.

“My goals are right now to win this title Saturday night, and then defend it later on this fall, and then go from there. Right now I’m definitely staying with UAE Warriors. Obviously if something came up, we can talk,” Arnett stated, noting that while the “UFC doesn’t like taking the older people no more,” they did sign a 40 year old on the Contender Series last year.

“I’m just content and happy where I’m at right now. I’ve had a good career, man. And you know, I’m your favourite fighter’s favourite fighter. I’ve got the respect of all my peers. Some of the best fighters in the world respect me and tell me I’m great, so I know I’m doing something right.”

It’s been a long and entertaining road for Jesse Arnett, long one of the standouts in Canadian MMA. Arnett got his start in collegiate wrestling, in the same generation that witnessed the rise of Daniel Cormier, Ben Askren, Henry Cejudo, and “King” Mo Lawal. He even travelled alongside them, representing Canada on the world stage.

“Mo Lawal ended up being one of my best friends when I was young, because we really loved wrestling, pro wrestling,” Arnett recalled. “I was up 3-0 to Henry Cejudo at the Pan Am Games going into the break, then he was pissed off, he smashed me 13-3. So when that’s happening to me at 20 years old, it definitely carries on 20 years later. Henry Cejudo’s been a thorn in everyone’s side for 20 years, geez!”

Jesse Arnett takes on Ali AlQaisi for the UAE Warriors featherweight championship this Saturday, July 2, 2022 at UAE Warriors 30. The event airs live on UFC Fight Pass.

The post With UAE Warriors Title In His Sights, Canadian Veteran Jesse Arnett Not Going Anywhere appeared first on Cageside Press.

Now, AlQaisi (12-5) will look to defend his title when he takes on Canadian regional scene veteran Jesse Arnett (19-8). The fight will serve as the main event of UAE Warriors 30 on on July 2, 2022, promotion officials announced on Tuesday.

The card will be the first of back-to-back events, with UAE Warriors 31: Arabia taking place the following night. Both events will air on UFC Fight Pass, and see five titles on the line between them.

In addition to AlQaisi vs. Arnett, Brazil’s Vinicius de Oliveira (17-2) puts his UAE Warriors bantamweight title on the line against undefeated Iraqi Ali Taleb (6-0) in the co-main event of UAE Warriors 30.

AlQaisi, a.k.a. “The Royal Fighter,” has won all four of his fights since parting ways with the UFC. In addition to claiming gold in UAE Warriors, the Jordanian fighter also won the Titan FC featherweight title last year.

Arnett is a former TKO bantamweight champion, who has been a staple of Canadian MMA since his professional debut in 2011. He holds notable wins over past and present UFC fighters Roland Delorme, Johnny Bedford, and Darrick Minner.

In March, Arnett picked up a win against Gadzhimurad Gasanguseynov at UAE Warriors 28, in a bantamweight bout. He’ll be moving up to challenge for AlQaisi’s 145lb title.

Atop UAE Warriors 31: Arabia, meanwhile, Rany Saadeh (12-4) and Fabricio Sarraff (29-10) meet for the inaugural UAE Warriors Arabia bantamweight title. Eslam Syaha (12-2) and Laïd Zerhouni (9-7) face off in the co-main event, for the inaugural UAE Warriors Arabia middleweight championship.

A third title fight sees Nawras Abzakh (9-4) square off with Sami Yahia (10-4) to become the first UAE Warriors Arabia flyweight champ.

Both events take place at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on July 2 and July 3, 2022.

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