ABU DHABI // The IPIC Arena in the capital on Thursday night was packed with spectators for the second Abu Dhabi Warriors Fighting Championship, a mixed martial arts tournament.
It was 27-year-old Ahmad Hussein’s first time at a live event.
“This is so exciting and I’m so pumped,” said the Syrian, an avid MMA fan who was there with friends.
“There’s nothing like seeing sport live, and especially fighting. You want to hear the sound of the hits, to be with the crowd when those amazing moments happen. It’s just not the same to watch this stuff on television.”
His friend and compatriot Mohammed Shafiq, 28, agreed. “It’s not my first time to see fights. I’ve been to many events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but there’s something about an MMA fight that’s just more exciting than things like boxing and kickboxing.”
The championship has the backing of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, among the key bodies supporting the growth of Jiu-Jitsu in the country.
Alana Abraham, a 35-year-old American, trains in MMA to keep in shape.
“This is probably one of the toughest sports for cardiovascular fitness,” she said.
“It requires endurance as well as so much speed and agility. I don’t ever want to fight, but as a way of training, I always train at fight clubs because you just get so fit, so fast.” Lubomir Guedjev, the managing director of Abu Dhabi Warriors, said that MMA was among the fastest-growing sports in the world and in the UAE.
“With Abu Dhabi Warriors we aim to help establish Abu Dhabi as a landmark for international MMA tournaments through bringing in new talent and supporting the development of youth and sports in the UAE,” he said.
Fighters from around the world – including Russia, Korea, Canada and the US – travelled to Abu Dhabi for the championship.
MMA blends the disciplines of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, muay thai, wrestling, boxing and kickboxing.
Fighters use striking and grappling techniques to counter their opponent’s strengths in matches that last between three and five five-minute rounds.
The main event featured former Strikeforce heavyweight prospect Brett Rogers and American MMA fighter Derrick Mehmen, among others.
Audiences at the event saw French kickboxing expert Xavier Foupa-Pokam take on Moldavian fighter Pavel Doroftei.
English fighter Jim Wallhead went head to head with Brazil’s Rodrigo Ribeiro, who works in Abu Dhabi for the JJ Project.
Russia’s Baga Agaev fought Mike Kyle from the US, while Max Nunes of Sweden fought Alexander Dolotenko of Ukraine.
mswan@thenational.ae
