UAE Jiu-Jitsu And MMA Athletes Celebrate Victories At Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship

UAE jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts athletes secured significant victories at the fifth Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship (ADXC) held on Friday evening at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City. The event showcased 14 high-level matchups in both jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts.

Among the notable attendees were Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Sultan bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, President of the Asian Chess Federation, President of the Emirates Esports Federation, and First Vice President of the Arab Esports Federation for Asia. Also present were Tarik bin Faisal Al-Qasimi and Alia bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship.

UAE's Omar Al Suwaidi, 21, triumphed over US’s Samuel Marquez by unanimous decision. Al Suwaidi maintained a high pace throughout the fight, dominating his opponent. In another bout, Balqees Al Hashmi from the UAE controlled her match against Russia’s Maria Odintsova. Using her guard effectively, Al Hashmi applied consistent pressure and won by unanimous decision.

The night also saw America’s Urijah Faber and Brazil’s Rayron Gracie emerge as champions. Faber clinched the no-gi trophy by defeating Bibiano Fernandes of Brazil. Nearly 20 years after their first encounter in MMA, Faber used his wrestling skills to dominate from the top position, winning by unanimous decision. "I have great respect for my rival," Faber said after his victory.

Rayron Gracie secured his second consecutive ADXC victory by submission against debutant Marcos Carrozzino. Gracie defended well against Carrozzino's attacks before locking in an unorthodox choke to force a tap-out. He dedicated his win to his uncle Renzo Gracie, who was present in his corner.

Other Notable Matches

In another main grappling fight, American Chad Mendes defeated Brazilian Diego Brandão by unanimous decision. Mendes controlled the fight with effective takedowns and head control during stand-up exchanges. Meanwhile, Pedro Ramalho of Portugal narrowly beat Sweden’s Max Lindblad by split decision in a technical gi event. Both fighters exchanged grips and attacks, but Ramalho's consistency with sweeps earned him the title.

Iranian fighter Pouya Rahmani showcased strength and technique by executing a single-leg takedown on Hamdy Abdelwahab before securing victory with a choke hold. Tunisian Amin Boudhina was defeated by Brazil's Davi Vetoraci, who transitioned from a flying triangle to an armbar for the win.

Younger Fighters Shine

Nineteen-year-old Seilkhan Bolatbek from Kazakhstan achieved a quick victory against Emad Ahmedin of the Netherlands. Additionally, Chinese fighter Xiaosong Shi faced US fighter Abe "The Killer" Alsaghir in an intense match where Alsaghir used cage control to secure a unanimous decision win despite Shi's strong guillotine attempt in the second round.

The event brought together 28 athletes from 26 countries, highlighting both local talent and international competitors' prowess in jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts.

With inputs from WAM