ABU DHABI // Setting aside the basic – and massive – difference that one is real and the other scripted, there is a body of discontent in the fight world that mixed-martial arts (MMA) promotions, such as UFC, are turning into the WWE.
That is, a lot of the unmissable reality of MMA is being lost in its rush for showbiz credibility.
So the return of Abu Dhabi Warriors Fighting Championship to the capital on Thursday night is not just a geographic return – their last fight night was in November 2012. It promises to be a spiritual one.
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No more gimmicks, no more unnecessary hype, no cage, no glamour, just man-on-man fighting. That, at least, is the aim of the organisers of the 10-fight card, headlined by a heavyweight bout between the Americans Brett Rogers and Derrick Mehmen.
“The MMA scene right now has become very commercial,” said Lubomir Guedjev, managing director for AD Warriors.
“People are focusing too much on the commercial side of it. They have forgotten the respect between opponents. They are trash-talking, throwing challenges. It’s become a show. We want to bring back the old-school martial-arts spirit.”
The event is supported by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and a purer, less trashy MMA fits in nicely with their broader goals as well.
“It is in support of the wider jiu-jitsu project in the UAE where we are teaching thousands of kids, teaching them through martial arts, about honour, respect, character and sportsmanship,” Guedjev said.
“The only way to show them this is true and real is to show them that when you fight, the same values help you to excel and progress in taking on the challenges in your life.”
Fighters from 11 countries are taking part and though the card is seen as a solid, well-matched one, the event was hit by three late withdrawals last week.
Most notable was the loss of Ole Laursen, the Filipino-Danish welterweight veteran, because of injury.
Fighters from Chechnya and Ukraine have also had to withdraw, throwing the balance of some contests slightly awry.
But Zlatko Mahic remains confident of the card’s drawing power.
“I’m excited about the whole card,” said Mahic, who is the matchmaker for the night.
“I’m sad we had some pull-outs but this is a fight sport and injuries happen.
“These happened last week so they are late replacements. I don’t know if the opponents are ready or not but all other fights are on the same level.
“I want people to enjoy the fights and, for that, they must be the same level.”
Other bouts the promoter believes will be noteworthy are middleweight clashes pitting Svetlozar Savov against the Japanese Ryuta Sakurai as well as Pavel Doroftei’s fight with Xavier Foupa-Pokam.
The first AD Warriors night was an exciting if chaotic event. Plans for live broadcast were shelved at the last minute and there was controversy over the result of the main event, Maro Perak beating late replacement Travis Wiuff on a split decision.
But a good crowd turned up and would have been surprised that no event would be staged for another two years.
They were not completely starved in the interim. In April last year, UFC staged a wildly successful fight night in the capital.
“Right now, we’re supported by the UAE JJ Federation,” Guedjev said. “At the inception of Warriors in 2012, the plans were the same as now, but as the federation has much bigger goals and challenges with jiu-jitsu, we had to wait.”
They may not have to wait as long this time. According to Guedjev, additional fight nights are scheduled for September and November this year and more next year.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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