The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation will be showcasing the sport and bringing together the best of regional and international athletes for a special event, 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 taking place on Saturday September 7.
The two-day showpiece event will take place on Monday September 2 and Tuesday September 3 at Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, putting eight local fighters and eight international fighters from Brazil, Montenegro, Morocco, Yemen and Palestine together in bouts at lightweight and middleweight categories.
The qualifying fights for both weights will take place on the first day of the tournament (2 September) from 5 pm to 6.30 pm, while the finals to take place on the second day of the championship (3 September) starting from 6 pm to 6.30 pm at Marina Mall Abu Dhabi. A special demonstration is scheduled for both days from 3pm to 4.30.
Mohamed Hussain Al Marzooqi, Director of Marketing and Finance, 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 will 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 will be 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.
The Jiu-Jitsu Show is just one element in a busy new season for the UAEJJF. The season kicked off with the first round of the Vice-President’s Cup on Saturday August 31 in Sharjah. The first round of the President’s Cup and the first round of the ‘Mother of the Nation’ championship for female contestants, to be held on 6th and 7th of September respectively.
