This weekend's fight between undefeated, 11-time, five-division boxing champion Floyd Mayweather and UFC Lightweight World Champion Conor McGregor must be one of the most hyped sporting event in living memory, if not ever. The event may have been somewhat cynically dubbed The Money Fight, but that's unlikely to stop millions tuning in to see what many experts predict could be one of the shortest fights in history. If the $15,000 (Dh60,000) being asked for ringside seats, or even the $20 (Dh80) it costs to watch on pay-per-view, seems a bit steep for the potentially brief spectacle of what former champ Mike Tyson predicts could be McGregor getting 'killed,' check out these venues across the UAE that will be opening up early to serve breakfast with champions.
QD’s 2.0, Emirates Golf Club
Emirates Golf Club will be staging a special 'punch brunch' to celebrate one of the biggest boxing bouts of all time. The Money Fight will be shown live on 15 widescreen TVs, plus one giant screen, at QD's 2.0, Emirates Golf Club's dedicated Summer Tent, with doors opening at 5.30am on Sunday 27th August, with breakfast served from 6am. Inclusive F+B packages start from Dh110, with discounts available for groups of more than 10. For more information please contact +971 4 417 9999 or email emiratesdining@dubaigolf.com
Bridgewater Tavern, JW Marriot
The Bridgewater Tavern's breakfast menu includes everything from croissants, Danish pastries, banana bread, muffins and fresh fruit to a full fry up, and you can round off with bread and butter pudding with whipped cream, vanilla sauce and berry compote, if that's the kind of thing you like for breakfast. Doors open at 7am, and tickets cost Dh200, including unlimited breakfast. Bookings: +971 4 414 3000 or visit jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com
Barasti
Barasti's vast outdoor seating area has been tented off and transformed into a 'jungalow' for the summer, so look forward to tropical palm trees, monkeys and your very own 'rumble in the jungle' when the fight hits one of the biggest screens in Dubai. Doors open at 6am and entry is free, with full English breakfast available from Dh85. www.barastibeach.com
Kickers
Where better to watch the sporting event of the season than Dubai Sports City? With 5 large projector screens and 11 TVs Kickers guarantees you won't miss a minute of the boxing action, and they'll be serving up breakfast favorites from fruit and muesli to the full fried "Heavy Weight Breakfast," including unlimited tea and coffee and a fresh juice bar. Entry is free from 6am, with breakfast from Dh85. The venue expects to be very busy, so book in advance on 04 448 1001 or by visiting www.kickerssportsbar.ae
Perry and Blackwelder’s
P&B's in Dubai's Madinat Jumeirah is getting started early, with doors for the big fight opening at 3am, so you can get the best seat ahead of the crowd. The venue is home to 12 big screens and 11 widescreen TVs, and unlimited coffee and breakfast bites will be available from AD 60. Chef Tony has also whipped up a week-long special of Money Cakes, - cheesecake topped with 100 dollar bills, available in two flavours; Irish cream and P&B. www.jumeirah.com
Burger and Lobster
Burger and Lobster is putting together a themed menu including The Mayweathered Eggs Benedict - Lobster Eggs Benedict served on English muffins with herbed grilled tomato, mushrooms, roasted baby potatoes and hollandaise sauce, and The Full McGregor Breakfast, an English-style (Irish-style, surely?) fry up with chicken sausage, veal bacon, mushrooms, tomato, black pudding, baked beans and eggs. Both are served with a slice of their famous brioche toast with jam and butter. The venue opens at 4am with breakfast set menu from Dh110. www.Burgerandlobster.com
Dubai and Abu Dhabi
McGettigans
Mcgettigans three venues at JLT, DWTC and Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi will be opening up at 6am, with its signature breakfast of eggs, sausage, back bacon, black and white pudding, overnight tomato, baked beans, flat cap mushroom and hash brown with toast available from Dh79 (JLT and Abu Dhabi) and Dh60 (DWTC). www.mcgettigans.com
Loca
By way of a tenuous link, Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas is among the fighters on the big event's supporting card. Fidel Castro and Che Guevara famously sailed to launch the Cuban revolution from Mexico, so why not feast on a Mexican breakfast at Loca's Dubai Marine Resort and Abu Dhabi Galeria Mall locations while watching the action? Entry to both is free from 6am. www.locauae.com
Abu Dhabi
Belgian Café
The Belgian Café in Abu Dhabi’s Intercontinental Hotel will be opening its doors at 6am for the big fight, with an unlimited breakfast buffet including tea, coffee and juices available for Dh75. Book your spot on 800 423 463.
Stars and Bars
Yas Island's American-themed sports bar will be screening the fight on an impressive 76 HDTV Screens, as well as its 100" video wall complete with full audio commentary. Breakfast dishes will be available from Dh40, with all-inclusive packages available from Dh200. Tables can be booked at www.zomato.com, or call 02 565 0101.
