Fighters land in UAE ahead of first Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship

ABU DHABI: The inaugural Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship begins on Friday at the Mubadala Arena — as part of the ongoing Abu Dhabi Showdown Week — with some of the world’s best grapplers participating.

Organizers International Vision Sports Management have confirmed that all preparations for the groundbreaking combat sports event have been completed.

The ADXC 1 championship will see jiu-jitsu and mixed-martial-arts athletes compete in bouts consisting of five, three-minute rounds. It is then set to embark on a tour of major international cities over the next two years. Season champions will be crowned based on accumulated points.

“We are just hours away from Abu Dhabi hosting the inaugural ADXC, ushering in a new era of combat sports,” said Abdel Moneim Al-Hashemi, chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, president of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union, and chairman of International Vision Investments, majority stakeholders in IVSM.

“This championship will bring together the world’s best fighters, offering a comprehensive global platform for jiu-jitsu and grappling that transcends the boundaries of combat sports. Abu Dhabi has already established itself as a global capital of jiu-jitsu and this event will reshape the landscape of wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and martial arts through this unique championship here in the UAE capital.

“Our aim is to elevate the stature of this championship on the global stage,” said Al-Hashemi. “Athletes spend their life dedicated to showing the value and beauty of jiu-jitsu, so it is important to show that this sport can be both accessible and appreciated by the world.”

ADXC 1 represents a fusion of jiu-jitsu and MMA, combining strategy and raw power.

“Fifteen years ago, the discussions