Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The 8th National MMA Championship concluded on Sunday at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, on a high note. Organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation (UAEJJF), the championship saw an energetic, competitive atmosphere and impressive audience attendance, reflecting the championship's stature and its role in advancing the sport and nurturing future champions.
Held over two days, the championship attracted wide participation and growing interest, underscoring its increasing positive impact with each edition.
The final day featured intense and exciting bouts in the Youth A (ages 16–17) and Adult (18 years and above) categories, showcasing advanced technical levels and high competitiveness among the athletes.
Yousef Al Batran, Board Member of the UAEJJF, stated that the 8th season is an important milestone on the road of continuous work over the years, with each previous event building on organisational and technical expertise, leading to the delivery of a national championship with advanced professional standards.
"We are proud of what the championship has achieved in its 8th edition," Al Batran said, "which showcases significant progress in both technical performance and organisational excellence. It has successfully met its objectives, foremost among them discovering and developing national talent to support the national team with distinguished athletes capable of representing the UAE across various platforms."
He added that the championship witnessed a notable advancement in the level of competition, reflecting the Federation's ongoing efforts in preparing and developing athletes in line with best practices.
He also praised the strong family presence, a defining feature of the event, highlighting the vital role of families in supporting athlete – particularly as the championship coincides with the "Year of Family".
Saif Al Junaibi of the Abu Dhabi Martial Arts Academy won a gold medal in the Youth A category and expressed his happiness in participating in a championship "that continues to grow in prominence each year". He noted that this increasing attention motivates athletes to continue improving and striving for higher levels of achievement.
Hamza Al Kilani, his ADMA club colleague, managed a bronze medal in the same category but was also content and proud of his achievement having participated in the championship, which he called it as an excellent platform to showcase athletes' skills and abilities.
He added that winning in this edition serves as strong motivation to achieve further success in upcoming competitions. The Championship has reaffirmed its position as one of the leading national tournaments supporting the sport's development and serving as a key platform for discovering talent and building champions, further strengthening the UAE's leadership in advancing mixed martial arts and reinforcing its presence at both regional and international levels.
