Abu Dhabi International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 set for Mubadala Arena showdown

The Mubadala Arena will host the AJP Tour Abu Dhabi International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 on March 17-19 (Supplied)
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Updated 14 March 2023
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Abu Dhabi International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 set for Mubadala Arena showdown

  • Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro Tour event will run from March 17-19

ABU DHABI: Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City is set to host the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro Tour Abu Dhabi International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 competitions from March 17 to 19.

The contests, open to clubs and academies from around the world, will feature kids, youth, amateur, professional, and master divisions.

The three-day championship, jointly organized by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the AJP, is the second set of AJP competitions in the 2023 events season. The first was the AJP No-Gi Abu Dhabi International Jiu-Jitsu Championship, which took place last month.

Youssef Abdullah Al-Batran, a UAEJJF board member, said: “The AJP championships are a valuable component in the schedule of championship activities for the current sporting season and help to highlight a significant number of fresh talent aiming to build a successful professional career.

“The increased registrations for events testify to the effectiveness of the UAEJJF’s initiatives to develop the sport, broaden the pool of participants, and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as the world’s capital for jiu-jitsu.

“We always strive to offer the perfect environment for our young athletes to engage with the greatest players from clubs and academies around the world, honing their skills and improving their readiness for major international competitions.”

Tariq Al-Bahri, general manager of the AJP, said: “The AJP events in the UAE along with our 150 international championships are gaining greater support as they continue to improve the players’ skills, career growth, and offer rigorous competitions among the participants.

“These will have a significant impact on the UAE and the capital Abu Dhabi’s capability to solidify its status as the global sporting hub and a much-sought-after destination for champions from around the world,” he added.

The competitions will feature boys and girls in infant (grey, yellow, and orange) and junior (grey, yellow, orange, and green) divisions on March 17, the first day of the event.

On Saturday, the action will continue with bouts for the boys and girls in teen and youth (blue and purple), men’s master one (blue, purple, brown, and black) and master two (blue, purple, brown, and black) divisions.

Men and women contestants will compete in amateur (blue) and professional (purple, brown, and black) divisions on Sunday.


Benzema hat-trick helps Al-Ittihad to a comfortable win over 10-man Al-Kholood

Updated 10 January 2026
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Benzema hat-trick helps Al-Ittihad to a comfortable win over 10-man Al-Kholood

  • The 4-0 win saw the reigning champions climb to fifth in the Saudi Pro League table, but still a sizeable nine points behind leaders Al-Hilal

DUBAI: Karim Benzema scored a first-half hat-trick as Al-Ittihad extended their recent improved run of form to beat hosts Al-Kholood 4-0 and climb to fifth in the Saudi Pro League table.

The reigning champions now have 26 points from 13 matches and remain nine points behind leaders Al-Hilal. Al-Nassr sit in second with 31 points, ahead of Al-Taawoun on goal difference, while Al-Qadsiah are fourth  with 27 points.

A difficult fixture for Al-Kholood became almost impossible when defender William Troost-Ekong received a straight red as early as the eighth minute. It came as little surprise that Ittihad would quickly overwhelm the beleaguered home team, with Benzema opening the scoring on 13 minutes from the penalty spot and then doubling the lead on 28 minutes, converting from Muhannad Al-Shanqiti’s assist.

The Frenchman completed his treble in the 35th minute, tapping home Moussa Diaby’s low cross from close range in a very similar manner to his second goal. Saleh Al-Shehri completed the rout six minutes from the end to secure a fourth straight SPL win for the club.

Earlier in the day, Al-Taawoun beat 10-man Al-Shabab 2-0 at home to stay third in the table. Roger Martinez opened the scoring with a 27th minute penalty, nine minutes after the away team’s MohammedAl-Shwirekh had received his marching orders. Angelo Fulgini scored the second in first half stoppage to secure three points and ensure Al-Taawoun bounced back from last week’s loss to Al-Ittihad.

In Friday’s other match, Al-Khaleej claimed a comprehensive 4-0 win over Damac, who had been reduced to 10 men after only 24 minutes. Al-Khaleej sit in ninth place in the standings, while Damac are 14th.