ABU DHABI GRAND SLAM HITS LA

ABU DHABI GRAND SLAM LOS ANGLES 

With only 10 days until the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam hits US soil for the the very first time – you’d better get excited! Many of the best black belt competitors in the World will be taking to the mats for a chance to win cash prizes and fight for a place in the finals, to be held in Abu Dhabi. Click HERE for more information on the event

KEENAN CORNELIUS: "I CAN'T WAIT TO FIGHT IN ABU DHABI AGAIN"

Andre Galvao black belt and worm guard connoisseur, Keenan Cornelius, has expressed his desire to compete in Abu Dhabi again later in the year.

Coming off the back of his successes at the ADCC and in submission only tournaments, Cornelius says he is, "really excited to get back to Abu Dhabi and fight at the World Pro. It's an event that i've always enjoyed and I believe it represents one of the best arenas for professional jiu jitsu fighters to compete."

Read our full interview with Keenan HERE.

EMIRATI BOYS SHINE AT CHILDREN'S CUP

ABU DHABI // Day 2 of the World Jiu-Jitsu Children’s Cup 2015 saw 924 young players from 30 countries battle it out for medals, with the majority once again representing the UAE.

The opening day had brought 37 gold, 42 silver and 57 bronze medals for the young Emirati female fighters.

On Tuesday, the boys were fighting across a mammoth 54 categories and, once again, local fighters of all ages dominated: Emiratis won 36 golds, 37 silver and 63 bronze.

Khaled Nasser Al Otaiba, 11, was one winner, claiming gold in the 34.5-kilogram grey-belt category.

“It was a little easy. I think I won 5-0,” he said. “I don’t train in a club. I train at home with my brother, Nayef.”

It is a sign of how widespread jiu-jitsu participation has become at schools across the Emirates that his elder brother, also a grey belt, won gold in the 42.5kg class.

But the day was not all about Emirati players. More than 200 children travelled to Abu Dhabi from as far away as Brazil, Europe and the Middle East to compete in the Children’s Cup.

Karim Hanandeh, competing in the 42.5kg white-belt category, flew in from Jordan and at age 9 is one of the youngest players in the competition.

“We heard about this event through the gym were he goes training,” his mother, Ruba, said. “His coach recommended that he join this tournament in Abu Dhabi. I Googled it and read about it. I saw it was a big, big tournament, so we decided to bring him here.”

CLASSIC MATCH: JACKSON SOUSA VS KEENAN CORNELIUS 

Who remembers This epic match between Jackson Sousa and Keenan Cornelius from the 2014 Abu Dhabi World Pro? Check out the amazing match below!