Tarek Suleiman: UAE Warriors Arabia 'has turned a new chapter' for Arab fighters

Tarek Suleiman applies a rear naked choke on Laid Zerhouni during their UAE Warriors Arabia middleweight contest at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy UAE Warriors

Tarek Suleiman praised the UAE Warriors platform for giving Arab fighters a platform to cut their teeth in mixed martial arts.

The Thailand-based Syrian made short work of his Algerian opponent Laid Zerhouni in the featured middleweight event in Friday's UAE Warriors Arabia at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Abu Dhabi.

“The UAE Warriors Arabia has turned a new chapter for the Arab fighters from around the world to gather in one of the top most MMA platforms,” Suleiman said after submitting his opponent in the first round.

“I have been associated with the Abu Dhabi-based organisation for more than two years and I can say they have made a massive opportunity for the Arab fighters to progress to the world stage.

“We have seen tonight the quality of the competition and this can only get better, assuming the organisation conducts regular events in the coming months.”

Suleiman succeeded in taking Zerhouni down at the third attempt, forcing a tap-out from the Algerian, who arrived with a 7-6 win/loss record, after applying a rear naked choke.

“It wasn’t as easy as it may have looked,” Suleiman, who stretched his career record to 11-7, said.

“He was a tough guy. He slipped out of my attempts to take him down twice but I pinned him when I got the opportunity. Obviously I was glad to finish him off early.”

Three Emirati fighters – Abdullah Mohammed Ali, Rashed Dawood and the experienced Mohammed Yahya – also recorded victories.

Ali won a unanimous decision over Moroccan debutant Abdelhak Amhidra in the lighweight division as Dawood stretched his unbeaten run to two after a TKO over Adnan Bushahsy of Algeria in the catchweight 73kg.

Yahya was taken the full distance by Egyptian lightweight Azouz Anwar before being awarded the fight on the scorecards. The result took the Emirati’s professional record to 8-4.

“The level of competition here wasn’t any less than a regular UAE Warriors card,” Yahya said.

“Obviously I’m glad for this inaugural Warriors Arabia event. We can only move forward from here. MMA has really grown in the region and in the Arab world. This first step is an important one that opens the Arab talent to the world.”