Top fighters to battle for Dh2.7m prize fund at Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Twelfth edition of championship to be staged at Zayed Sports City from April 6-9

The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship will see the best fighters compete from April 6-9. Courtesy UAEJJF

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) has announced a prize fund of Dh2.7million for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship from April 6-9.

The 12th edition of the championship was twice postponed from last year after the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The championship, also known as the World Pro, is set to bring some of the best fighters from around the world for the most prestigious title on the global jiu-jitsu calendar at the Zayed Sports City’s Jiu-Jitsu Arena.

The UAEJJF said that the tournament had received an overwhelming response with registration slots filling up quickly.

They have also worked in close coordination with multiple government entities to put in place a comprehensive health and safety framework adhering to all local and federal health guidelines to ensure a safe and secure environment for the hundreds of fighters and personnel from around the world.

“Abu Dhabi has today become the unrivalled international home of jiu-jitsu and this standing brings with it a lot of responsibility,” Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, vice-president of UAEJJF, said at the launch of the championship on Monday.

“It is our commitment to ensure that the development of our sport continues apace and with the direction of the UAE’s wise and visionary leadership. We are confident that the 12th edition of the World Pro will be a tremendous success.

“It is a matter of great pride that the championship will commence on the day we begin to commemorate the 50th year of the founding of our country.”

Dr Faisal Al Ahbabi, director of Infectious Diseases Department, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said that close cooperation between the UAEJJF and his department had seen them draw up a far-reaching plan to maintain the highest standards of health and safety in the run-up to the championship.

“One of the hallmarks of Abu Dhabi’s hosting of internationally-acclaimed sporting events over the course of last year has been the very robust health and safety framework that has been deployed around the event,” he said.

“The jiu-jitsu championship is no different. The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre has worked very closely with the organisers in instituting a thorough system of testing and compliance to internationally-accepted safety standards and are confident of guaranteeing the safety of all participants.”

The action begins on April 6 with the junior under-18 and under-21 taking to the mats followed by the masters category on April 7.

The final two days of the competition are reserved for thw professional division which will see top male and female stars go toe-to-toe in their fight for glory.