ABU DHABI: This season’s Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour concluded on Sunday, with Commando Group emerging as champions after the fifth and final round.
The event at the Mubadala Arena saw fierce competition between professional black belts worldwide¸ with MOD UAE and Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Club securing second and third respectively.
As the curtain fell on the 2023-2024 season, which included rounds in Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Tokyo, and Rome, organizers announced the best-ranked athletes in the various weight and belt divisions based on accumulated points.
The men’s rankings included black belts Welison Fernandes (under 62 kg), Jefferson Fagundes (under 69 kg), Diego Batista (under 77 kg), Luiz Paulo Medeiros (under 85 kg), Uanderson Ferreira (under 94 kg), Marcos Carrozino (over 94 kg), and Felipe Bezerra (over 120 kg).
The women’s rankings included black belt Diana Teixeira (under 49 kg), and brown belts holders Beatriz Campos (under 55 kg), Julia Alves (under 62 kg), and Isabely Lemos (under 95 kg).
“Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour is considered one of the major jiu-jitsu events presented by Abu Dhabi to the world,” said Youssef Al-Batran, UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation board member.
“The event gets bigger and better year after year, taking the sport to newer heights and establishing itself as a much sought-after platform for the world’s elite athletes. Professional athletes from around the world are keen to participate in it and have been intensifying their preparations for the competitions.”
Tareq Al-Bahri, general manager of the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro, lauded the champions for their performances throughout the season, highlighting the event’s success across all levels of competition.
“The final round of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour was a tremendous success, as testified by the fact that it welcomed more than 2,500 male and female players,” he said. “Preparations have already begun for the start of the new season, with the first event scheduled in Istanbul in June 2024.”
Marcelo Fanosa, coach of the MOD UAE, said: “We began preparing vigorously for the ADGS Abu Dhabi months ago. Our athletes gave stellar performances as we achieved first places in the master’s and amateur categories. I extend my thanks to the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and AJP for organizing a tournament of this level and allowing our competitors to test their skills against the world’s elite athletes here in Abu Dhabi.”
