UAE National MMA Championship 6 Opens In Al Ain With Competitive Opening Day

Action at the UAE National MMA Championship 6 begins on Saturday at UAE University in Al Ain, opening the new mixed martial arts season with strong involvement from clubs across the Emirates. Dozens of male and female athletes compete, showcasing early-season form in front of coaches and officials.

The first day focuses on youth divisions, with bouts in Youth D (10–11 years), Youth C (12–13 years), and Youth B (14–15 years). These contests give teams an early chance to track athlete development, while the event’s smooth organisation helps competitors perform with confidence from the opening matches.

Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohamed Alhashemi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, President of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union, and Senior Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, views the UAE National MMA Championship as a key measuring point for the season and explains its wider role in building talent.

"The UAE National MMA Championship is an important evaluation point at the start of the season. It allows clubs and academies to closely follow athlete performance and measure the progress made during the preparation period, helping to build a strong base for upcoming competitions.

"We thank the UAE’s visionary leadership for its continued support of sport and athletes, and for investing in Emirati youth to help them develop their skills. What we saw in Al Ain today was more than just results or fights. It was a strong start to the season and a sign that the work is heading in the right direction. Our focus at this stage is on building a long-term pathway for developing talent, starting with younger age groups and leading to international competition. This was clear in the strong participation, good organisation, and the level of performances on the opening day."

Alhashemi highlights that the youth-focused schedule aligns with long-term plans for international success, with younger age brackets forming the base of that structure. The strong turnout from leading academies underlines growing interest in regulated mixed martial arts within the UAE sporting system.

Among the standout performers, Taj Nasr of ADMA Academy secures first place in the Youth B under-67kg division. Nasr explains a demanding training schedule and recent move into mixed martial arts alongside jiu-jitsu. Nasr says, "I am very happy with the result. I only recently started practising mixed martial arts alongside jiu-jitsu, and I train six days a week. I previously competed at the Youth MMA World Championship, where I finished third."

The UAE National MMA Championship 6 schedule continues on Sunday with the remaining bouts, as competition shifts to Youth A (16–17 years) and Adults (18 years and above). Officials expect another busy programme, providing further data for coaches and contributing to the UAE’s broader efforts to support Emirati and resident athletes in mixed martial arts.

With inputs from WAM