Neiman Gracie and Isaque Bahiense shine in Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship

Bellator fighter Neiman Gracie and Isaque Bahiense shared the honours in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship at the Mubadala Arena on Friday.

Gracie, a former UFC and WEC champion who proudly carries the legendary jiu-jitsu family name and the legacy of his uncle, Renzo Gracie, outclassed American Ben Henderson via a submission in the No Gi main event.

Bahiense, meanwhile, emerged victorious over Atos’ Gustavo Batista in an All-Brazilian Gi main event.

“ADXC is the new show that’s gonna take over grappling, and I’m happy,” Brazilian Gracie said following his victory.

“I’ve trained extensively under these rules, and it was an excellent match for me because I love chasing submissions. Given the three-minute time limit, I was determined to give it my all-in pursuit of the finish. It was a fantastic experience.

“Fighting someone like Benson, who is lightning fast and explosive with his movement, I knew he would be a hard guy to finish. But I was determined, which is why I continuously pursued the submission.

“Since we only had three minutes, I aimed to attempt the finish ten times in those three minutes. If it didn’t work ten times, I’d have gone for twenty.”

Bahiense, who had got the better of Batista in previous encounters, reaffirmed his dominance in a clash that showcased the pinnacle of jiu-jitsu.

“Our goal was to play to our strengths; he knows his game well, and I refrained from playing into his game. It was a tough contest, but I came out on top.”

Former Venator FC welterweight champion and UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori overcame Tarek Suleiman by unanimous decision in the No Gi co-main event.

That’s a WIN