UAE Jiu-Jitsu Champions Excel at Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship

UAE Athletes Excel at Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship 2024

The eighth edition of the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship (ADXC) concluded on December 7 at the ADNEC Centre in Al Ain, bringing together some of the world’s leading jiu-jitsu and grappling athletes. Organised by International Vision Sports Management (IVSM) in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi, the event attracted a large crowd and featured 13 exciting matches that combined jiu-jitsu and grappling and took place inside an octagonal cage.

Emirati Athletes Shine in Their Home Country

Emirati jiu-jitsu champion Shamma Al Kalbani, who defeated China’s Peiqin Ge via unanimous decision in the bantamweight division, gave one of the most impressive performances. Al Kalbani was thrilled to represent the United Arab Emirates and highlight the power of women in sports with her performance, which showcased her excellent offensive strategy.Al Kalbani said, “The match was tough, but I stayed focused and won through my offensive strategy,” following the fight.

In the lightweight jiu-jitsu division, Omar Alfadhli, another well-known Emirati, won by unanimous decision over Chilean opponent Nicolas Ponce. Competing in a cage for the first time, Alfadhli said the experience was priceless. “My opponent tried to use the cage to counter my attacks, but with my coach’s guidance, I adapted and secured the victory.”

Khaled Al Shehhi of the United Arab Emirates defeated Brazilian black belt and gold medallist Thalison Soares in an exciting bantamweight jiu-jitsu main match. Despite the grueling five-round fight, Al Shehhi won by unanimous decision thanks to his sophisticated skills. “I was ready for this fight because Soares is a well-known figure in jiu-jitsu.

It’s really great to win here in front of my family, friends, and supporters in Al Ain,” Al Shehhi remarked following his triumph.

International Rivals Take Over the Bouts

The showcase bouts of the event also included some outstanding performances.
Emirati competitor Salem Al Qubaisi submitted Russia’s Mukhammad Ramazanov with a cross choke in the first round at 4:39. Brazil’s Daniel Poncio took down Thor Koringa with a rear-naked choke in the third round at 0:39. Saif Al Ameri, also from the UAE, won via split decision in a highly competitive fight against Pablo Henrique.

Brazilian mixed martial arts and jiu-jitsu star Jafel Filho defeated Iraqi MMA fighter Amir Albazi in the main event by majority decision after five rounds in the featherweight grappling division. Speaking about the significance of the victory, Filho stated, “I’m grateful for the chance to participate in the ADXC. My opponent is one of the top 3 in my MMA weight division, so I trained a lot for this fight and I’m very happy with the results.”

Brazil’s Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu made his third appearance at the ADXC, marking it with a split-decision win over Ghana’s Haisam Rida in the heavyweight division. Abreu’s performance electrified the crowd in what was a thrilling contest.

Movlid Khaybulaev defeated James Gallagher by unanimous decision in a grappling match, Maria Luisa Delahaye defeated Brenda Larissa, and Abdulmalik Al-Murdhi of Saudi Arabia defeated Eduardo Farfan of Peru via split decision in an unrestricted weight jiu-jitsu match. In a fiercely contested featherweight grappling match, Egyptian Mido Mohamed defeated Uzbek Bakhromjon Ruziev, and in the welterweight grappling division, Scotland’s Craig McIntosh defeated Kuwait’s Ahmad Al Bousairi via unanimous decision.

A Night of Global Competition and High-Level Skill

The Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship showcased the talent and skill of the world’s grappling and jiu-jitsu communities. The event cemented its position as a significant event in the combat sports industry with a blend of exciting fights and impressive performances from both Emirati athletes and foreign competitors.