Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship (ADXC) lived up to its promise with an action-packed evening at the Mubadala Arena. Elite athletes from around the world delivered a spectacle for fight fans, as 28 top fighters did justice to the unique card in combat sports history where grappling and jiu-jitsu mixed within time constraints of three minutes.

In the main draw on the card, Bellator fighter Neiman Gracie emerged victorious over former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Extreme Cagefighting champion Ben Henderson in the No-Gi Main Event. 

Gracie, who proudly carries the legendary Gracie name and the legacy of his uncle, Renzo Gracie, secured a remarkable victory via submission, further adorning his ever-expanding medal collection.

“ADXC is the new show that’s going to take over grappling, and I’m happy,” Gracie said following his victory. 

“I’ve trained extensively under these rules, and it was an excellent match for me because I love chasing submissions.

Fighting someone like Benson, who is lightning fast and explosive with his movement, I knew he would be a hard guy to finish. But I was determined to finish... It was a fantastic experience.”

The Gi Main Event also featured a fierce rivalry as DreamArt leader Isaque Bahiense emerged victorious over Gustavo Batista. The latter failed to get revenge for his previous losses to Bahiense, who fought smartly.

“He knows his game well, and I refrained from playing into his pressure. It was a tough contest, but I came out on top,” Bahiense said.

Former Venator FC welterweight champion and UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori beat Tarek Suleiman, renowned for his No-Gi submission skills, in the Co-Main event. Vettori emerged victorious with a unanimous decision after a hard-fought battle.

In another riveting No-Gi Co-Main event, Roberto Abreu locked horns with Australian black belt Anton Minenko in a contest that displayed the raw power and skill of these world-class athletes. 

Cyborg secured victory through a unanimous decision after five intense rounds, but Minenko’s unwavering determination promises an exciting future for this rising star in the sport.