Jiu-jitsu C’ship takes centre stage at Abu Dhabi Showdown Week

Abu Dhabi: Jiu-jitsu was given its chance to shine during day two of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, a week-long mixed martial arts and entertainment festival that culminates in UFC 242 at the Arena on Yas Island on Saturday, with 16 athletes from the UAE and around the world taking to the mats in a special competition reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as the global home of jiu-jitsu.

Eight athletes from the UAE and eight from Brazil, Montenegro, Morocco, Yemen and Palestine came together in competitive action across lightweight and middleweight categories.

After a series of fiercely contested matches, 8 players qualified for the finals on Tuesday.

UAE national athlete Mohammad Suwaidi booked his place in the finals and is looking forward to demonstrating his skills again.

“It’s great to reach the finals and to play my part in showcasing the progress of jiu-jitsu in the UAE,” said the black belt.

The finals take place on Wednesday at Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, from 5pm.

The Jiu-Jitsu Show, which has been planned as part of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, a diverse, seven-day series of events that culminates in the UFC 242 Mixed Martial Arts event.

Mohamed Hussain Al Marzooqi, Director of Marketing and Finance, UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), said: “The Jiu-Jitsu show is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the sport of Jiu-Jitsu itself as well as the high standard of talent that the sport produces both here in the UAE and around the world.

“The standard of fighters flying in from Brazil and around the world only emphasise the high regard that the UAE is held in, among the jiu-jitsu global community.

“From the point of view of the UAE fighters, it is another good opportunity for our fighters to test themselves against international talent.

And from the point of view of the UAE JJF, the Jiu-Jitsu show presents another great chance to spread the word about the sport among the general public and the many international visitors who will be coming to the city for Abu Dhabi Showdown Week.

“The bouts and the fighters on show highlight the importance of the sport in promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, and in promoting a healthy mindset and values such as tolerance, acceptance of others, respect and humility.”

Taleb Saleh Al Kurbi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Omar Al Fadhli and Khaled Al Shehi participate from the UAE at lightweight while Mohamad Al Kaabi, Saoud Al Hammadi, Mohamed Al Ameri and Mohamed Al Qubaisi are in action at middleweight.

Four Brazilian fighters will be taking part in the event, highlighting the popularity of the sport in the South American country with Jocelio Ferreira and Gabriel Chaves at middleweight and Thalyson Araujo and Thiago Buscacio in the lightweight category.

Moroccan Adnane Moudatir and Davor Markovich from Montenegro will also be in action at middleweight with Sultan Jaarour from Palestine and Sami Bin Hariz from Yemen also showing the strength of the sport in the Middle East.