UAE Jiu-Jitsu Champions Showcase Skills At Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship In Al Ain

The Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship's eighth edition concluded at the ADNEC Centre in Al Ain. The event featured top jiu-jitsu and grappling athletes, drawing a large audience. Organised by International Vision Sports Management with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the championship is renowned for its unique rules. It included 13 matches combining jiu-jitsu and grappling within an octagonal cage.

Emirati jiu-jitsu star Shamma Al Kalbani showcased her skills by defeating China's Peiqin Ge in the bantamweight category. After a challenging three-round match, she won via unanimous decision. Shamma expressed pride in representing the UAE, saying, "I’m proud to represent the UAE and highlight the strength of women in jiu-jitsu. The match was tough, but I stayed focused and won through my offensive strategy. I look forward to representing the UAE in an honourable way in future competitions."

Omar Alfadhli from the UAE also excelled, defeating Chilean Nicolás Ponce in the lightweight jiu-jitsu category by unanimous decision. Competing inside a cage for the first time added significance to his victory. He noted, "Competing in a cage for the first time made this victory even more special and gave me valuable experience, as I’m more accustomed to fighting on the mat."

Khaled Al Shehhi demonstrated advanced techniques against Brazilian Thalison Soares in the bantamweight main event. Al Shehhi secured a unanimous decision win after five intense rounds. Reflecting on his victory, he said, "I was fully prepared for this fight because I know Soares is a big name in jiu-jitsu. Winning here in front of my family, friends, and fans in Al Ain is truly special."

In showcase bouts, Emirati Salem Al Qubaisi submitted Russia’s Mukhammad Ramazanov with a cross choke early in round one. Brazil’s Daniel Poncio defeated Thor Koringa using a rear-naked choke in round three. Saif Al Ameri from the UAE narrowly beat Pablo Henrique via split decision after a competitive match.

Jafel Filho emerged victorious against Amir Albazi in a highly anticipated featherweight grappling bout. The Brazilian mixed martial artist won via unanimous decision after five rounds. Filho commented on his success: "I’m happy for the opportunity to compete in the ADXC. My opponent is the top 3 in my MMA weight division, so I trained a lot for this fight and I’m very happy with the results."

International Competitors Impress

In another thrilling contest, Brazil’s Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu defeated Ghanaian Haisam Rida by split decision during their heavyweight clash. This marked Abreu's third appearance at ADXC.

Movlid Khaybulaev secured a unanimous decision win over James Gallagher during an intense grappling contest on the main card. Maria Luisa Delahaye showcased her precision by defeating Brenda Larissa via unanimous decision in their jiu-jitsu bout.

Saudi Arabia’s Abdulmalik Al-Murdhi claimed victory over Peruvian Eduardo Farfan through split decision during an unrestricted weight jiu-jitsu bout. Egyptian Mido Mohamed triumphed over Uzbek Bakhromjon Ruziev following their closely contested featherweight grappling clash.

Craig McIntosh from Scotland achieved success against Kuwait’s Ahmad Al Bousairi with a unanimous decision win during their welterweight grappling bout.

The championship concluded with thrilling matches that captivated both local and international audiences while highlighting exceptional talent across various categories within jiu-jitsu and grappling disciplines.

With inputs from WAM