Amin Abbas

ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour (ADGS) continued at the Mubadala Arena on Saturday with a thrilling display of top-class jiu-jitsu talent across both the master’s and amateur categories. As the results were announced for the event’s second day, the M.O.D. UAE team showcased their dominance by claiming first place in both categories.

Organized by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), this edition of ADGS welcomed 2,500 participants from across the globe. 

Saturday’s competitions witnessed stellar performances from athletes in all divisions. Notably, Commando Group and ZR Team International secured second and third places, respectively, in the master’s division, while Checkmat International and Sharjah Self Defense Sports Club claimed second and third places in the amateur division.

The championship kicked off on Friday with youth competitions, where Al Jazira Club emerged victorious, followed by Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club as runners-up, and Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club secured the third position. 

The competition was attended by Odonbaatar Shijeekhuu, the Ambassador of Mongolia to the UAE, and Mohammed Al Dhaheri, a board member of the UAEJJF.

“ADGS Abu Dhabi consistently raises the bar, with a record-breaking 2,500 athletes from around the world participating in this prestigious event. It is one of the major events in the global jiu-jitsu calendar, attracting elite professionals,” said Al Dhaheri.

Shijeekhuu echoed his statement, saying, “It is always fantastic to see how the UAE organizes major international sporting events with the utmost professionalism. We are very proud to be here with the Mongolian athletes, including adults and youth. I believe these events bring our nations and people closer together, demonstrating messages of tolerance and coexistence.”

Tariq Al Bahri, AJP’s General Manager, highlighted the championship’s role in elevating player rankings, as winners in each category are awarded 3,000 points.

“The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam championship, held across its five rounds this season in Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Tokyo, Rome, and finally Abu Dhabi, has provided a platform for thousands of professionals to test their skills against the world’s best. Accumulating ranking points at these competitions enables athletes to qualify to win valuable prizes at the end of the season,” Al Bahri said.

Furthermore, Raphael Barbosa, head of jiu-jitsu at UFC Gym Middle East, commended his team’s performance, saying, “The team is doing an amazing job. We had around 20 athletes, and we won three gold medals. I’m very happy with the performance. We recently established a competition team, and it’s already yielding very good results. So, this is just the beginning of the new journey we are embarking on. I can’t wait for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in November.”