Today's Edition
Kuumar Shyam (Abu Dhabi)
Mohammed Al Suwaidi secured a decisive win at the second Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City, making him the tournament's first Emirati champion. He succeeded where his brother Omar and Zayed Al Katheeri in the inaugural edition could not.
Mohammed Al Suwaidi defeated South Korea's Seonghyeon Joo on the Prelims Card in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Issa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Excellency Abdulmunem Alsayedmohamed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
In a gripping three-round showdown in the Grappling (Lightweight) category, Al Suwaidi showcased exceptional skills that led to a unanimous decision by the judges in his favor against the formidable Joo. "It was a wonderful experience to step into the cage for the first time. I have put in a great effort during a month-and-a-half of training with expert coaches in grappling and jiu-jitsu."
Besides Al Suwaidi, former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling won the grappling welterweight division, defeating fellow UFC fighter Chase Hooper in a five-round, three-minute No-Gi bout – the main bout on the card for the event fast rising in popularity.
The highly anticipated matchup saw both fighters engaging in intense takedowns and submission attempts. However, in a split decision, Sterling was declared the winner.
With 14 fights featuring 28 athletes, the tournament confirms that its success is a testament to the growing popularity of the sport. The championship will now move to Brazil for the third staging on March 2 as the event goes global.
In the main co-event, Bruno Lima from Portugal secured a victory by knocking out Manuel Ribamar in their jiu-jitsu middleweight bout. In the jiu-jitsu co-main event, Ffion Davies of Wales defeated Brazilian Luana Pinheiro by submission in just 51 seconds in the first round of their grappling catchweight bout, making it the fastest match of the tournament.
Sterling, with a record of 23 wins, beat his America compatriot Chase Hooper, with 13 wins. Aljamain Sterling said: "Hooper did some good stuff and I expected that.
"He was the bigger guy coming into this and I'm trying to transition, going up a weight class, so what better way to test my skills than to see how good of a grappler I truly am for MMA than going against a guy like that. I thought I won it by unanimous decision, but it's jiu-jitsu. I understand the submission attempt, so I gotta look at it again. I look forward to coming here again and beating more opponents."
Lima said after adding the ADXC2 title to his gold at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship: "I have been preparing myself all my life. It's like when you put a seed in the soil, nothing much happens, nothing much happens, and then a tree grows, and eventually, it gives fruits. Now I am eating the fruit, and it's very nice but a very long journey."
His Excellency Abdulmunem Al Hashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of the Asian Ju-Jitsu Union, Senior Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, and Chairman of IVSM, said: "This tournament was initially launched to introduce a new Emirati product to the world of mixed martial arts, providing athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills on one of the strongest platforms and compete inside a cage, offering fun, excitement, and a unique experience.
"It has become the focal point for fans. The tournament is filled with enthusiasm, especially with the participation of an elite group of distinguished fighters in their respective weight categories at the international level.
"ADXC 2 marks another chapter of excellence," he added, while thanking the organising team "that made this possible. They spared no effort in ensuring its tremendous success, from setting up a world-class venue to selecting the best participants; everything was executed in the best possible manner. Additionally, I want to express heartfelt thanks to the fighters, partners, sponsors, and everyone involved in this endeavour."
