Abu Dhabi: Commando Group emerged at the top of the medal table in the 16th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the Mubadala Arena on Saturday.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, concluded in spectacular fashion on Saturday at Mubadala Arena. Organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the championship’s final day showcased 12 professional black belt finals. M. O. D UAE finished second followed by Checkmat International.
The black belt finals showcased elite athletes from nine nations, including the UAE, Brazil, Spain, the United States, Hungary, Portugal, Canada, Australia, and Russia. The UAE champions secured 11 medals, including 2 golds, 5 silvers, and 4 bronzes across all professional belt divisions.
Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohammed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union, and Senior Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “Abu Dhabi is making history today in its journey as a global hub for jiu-jitsu. It has shown its unique ability to bring together world champions from diverse cultures under a banner of excellence and fair competition. The championship exceeded all expectations in terms of organisation, participation, and technical standards, reflecting the vision of our wise leadership and their commitment to positioning the UAE at the forefront of global sports.
“Today, we are celebrating the success of the championship but also the achievements of our national champions. They demonstrated their resilience and showed the world that the UAE can produce world class athletes This was evident with five Emirati athletes standing on the podium in the professional black belt competitions, a historic first since the championship began in 2009. I am grateful to the clubs and Emirati families for their support, the partners for their support, and the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation team and volunteers who worked tirelessly to deliver a globally recognised event,” he added.
In the men’s GI 56kg category, Thalison Soares from The Academy — Byron Bay emerged victorious over Zayed Alkatheeri of Abu Dhabi Police Academy. In the 62kg category, Jefferson Fagundes of PSLPB Cicero Costha outclassed Khaled Mohammed Alshehhi from Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club. Thiago Macedo of Rodrigo Pinheiro Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu triumphed in the 69kg category against Mohammed Alsuwaidi from Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Lucas Protasio of Checkmat claimed victory in the 77kg category over Pedro Ramalho of Focus Jiu-Jitsu. In the 85kg, Uanderson Ferreira of Carlson Gracie Rio de Janeiro overcame William Dias of Clube Feijao. Fellipe Andrew Silva of ADMA Brazil triumphed in the 94kg against Roberto Dib Frias of One Purpose BJJ, and Felipe Bezerra of Commando Group secured the 120kg gold by defeating Anton Seleznev of Universal Jiu-Jitsu.
In the women’s finals, Grasielle Brandao of Commando Group defeated Sonia Ariz of BJJ Akademie Berlin in the 49kg category. Maria Luisa Delahaye, also from Commando Group, overcame Asma Alhosani of Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club in the 55kg category. In the 62kg, Sarah Galvao of ATOS outperformed her teammate Tamara Toros, while Lillian Marchand of ATOS triumphed in the 70kg category against Sabatha Santos of Commando Group. In the 95kg category, Yara Nascimento of Fratres Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu emerged victorious over Leticia Dos Santos of Commando Group.
Sarah Galvao said: “I feel really good. This is my fourth time here. Consecutive wins, I won at blue, two times at purple, and now at brown/black. Honestly, I’m speechless. My family and I are the first ever to win the Abu Dhabi World Championship together. First, it was my dad, then my mum, and six years later, I showed up and won. Honestly, it’s incredible. I’ve never received a belt before, so this is a big deal for me.”
Thalison Soares said: “I’m over the moon right now — this feels like a dream come true. I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was a young boy, and to come here and achieve it while performing the way I did is truly amazing. It’s incredible to represent my country, my family, my students, and everyone who believes in me.”
For the first time since the championship’s inception, four Emiratis reached the professional black belt finals, securing four silver medals and one bronze. Zayed Al Katheeri (56kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (62kg), Mohammed Al Suwaidi (69kg), and Asma Al Hosani (55kg) each earned silver, while Omar Al Fadhli took home bronze in the 69kg category.
Mohammed Alsuwaidi of Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy said: “I want to congratulate Thiago Macedo on his outstanding performance today. I was aiming for the gold, but unfortunately, I couldn’t succeed. It’s part of the game; every competition, whether we win or lose, teaches us a lesson and motivates us to move forward.”
Asma Alhosani of Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club added: “It was a tough competition, to be honest. I tried my best to take the win, and I’m happy to have made it this far. For sure there’s more to come in the future. I want to thank the UAEJJF, my coaches, and my family for standing by me throughout this journey.”
Khaled Mohammed Alshehhi of Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club, who also won silver on Saturday, said, “I’m glad to have won silver today. A big thanks to everyone who supported me. There’s no time to rest, it’s time to prepare for what’s next.”
