“I represent any one with Arab blood”, Abdelwahab at home in dominant Abu Dhabi display

ABU DHABI: Coming off a loss in his last fight in July, former Egyptian Olympian, Hamdy Abdelwahab, made an emphatic return to the UFC Octagon on Saturday night, beating Chris Garnet in a dominant display that saw him beat Spain’s Chris Barnett with a unanimous decision.

Abdelwahab is currently one of the most electric prospects from the region which has increasingly become a hub for global fights sports. Abdelwahab said he felt at home fighting at the Etihad arena, thanking the fans which he said had spurred him on.

“I represent a whole Arab community everyone here that has any Arab blood I represent them,” Abdelwahab told reporters after the fight.

Abdelwahab’s career has seen him navigate his way through highs and lows including several knockout wins as well as suspensions. Now based out of Dubai, he said he was increasingly training to bring his opponents to the ground, where he believed his wrestling would prove overwhelming.

“The whole focus was my wrestling, no one can handle my wrestling, I need to show that I am an Olympic wrestler,” he said.

“I was blocking every single thing he can do, even the spinning kick and the elbows, I could see everything.”

Despite the UFC main card events being held in Abu Dhabi for several years now, with other fight nights held around the Gulf. The region remains shy in terms of talent participating at the highest level of the sport.

With a dominant win under his belt, and home court advantage, Abdelwahab, believes he can change those odds, taking his wrestling all the way to the top.

“If they have space for me at the Fight Night in Qatar, I am ready to go, I will just pack my bags and take my team and we will go,” he said.