Local fighters ready for Quintet 5 as line-up is announced for Dubai event

DUBAI: Local fighters are set to join a strong line-up of international fighter at Quintet 5 in Dubai on Oct. 23.

UAE-based fighters including Thiago Sa, Talison Soares, Pouya Rahmani and Haitham Rida will take centre stage at the Coca-Cola Arena when a new team format in martial arts makes its Middle East debut in Dubai.

The survival format sees each team consisting of five fighters, with one member from each team starting the match and the only route to victory being submission. The winner stays on, and a new opponent from the other team steps up. If a match ends in a draw, then both competitors are eliminated. This continues until one team is completely eliminated with all five fighters defeated, and the other is declared the winner.

Four legends of martial arts will captain the teams in Dubai, with the reunion of Pride FC’s biggest stars: Kazushi Sakuraba (the founder of Quintet), Renzo Gracie, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Bob Sapp.

On the night, the teams will compete in a bracket format with two semifinals, and a final to crown the overall winner. Team Sakuraba and Team Gracie will face-off in one semifinal, while Team Bangtao will take on Team Nogueira in the other.

Team Nogueira’s Thiago Sa — head coach at the Team Nogueira gym in Dubai — said: “For years people have been saying they want to see me compete here, and now is the right time. Quintet is an incredible event, and an opportunity I am very excited about. The people of Dubai are in for an amazing show, and I hope it can inspire more people to understand and love the world of grappling and combat sport.”

Regional promoter for the event, Tarek Suleiman said the quality of the competitors is outstanding.

“You cannot underestimate just how good this