Saudi-born Yemeni Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Osamah Almarwai will make his long-awaited return to the ONE Championship in the promotion’s first-ever event in Qatar in March.
The Singapore-based martial arts promotion organization has announced that Almarwai will face Brazilian rival Cleber Sousa in a flyweight submission grappling bout at ONE 166: Qatar, inside the Lusail Sports Arena, on March 1.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation no-gi champion, 31, is looking to capture his first win at the ONE Championship after suffering a defeat on his debut against Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey Musumeci.
Both men have a point to prove as they make their cases for a future title shot against Musumeci, with Sousa also looking to recover from an October 2022 defeat against the American champion.
Training under the supervision of Brazilian legend Andre Galvao at the famed Atos Academy in San Diego, Almarwai has racked up significant achievements in jiu-jitsu. He has become No. 1 IBJJF rooster weight no-gi (2022); IBJJF world no-gi champion (2022); IBJJF pan no-gi champion (2022); IBJJF American nationals no-gi champion (2022); IBJJF world master champion (2022); No. 1 IBJJF rooster weight no-gi (2021 brown); IBJJF world no-gi champion (2021 brown); and IBJJF American nationals no-gi champion (2021 brown).
ONE has also announced two other bouts for its show in Qatar. Iran’s Amir Aliakbari will face former ONE Heavyweight MMA Champion Arjan Bhullar, while Jarred Brooks defends his strawweight MMA world title against Joshua Pacio.
ONE earlier announced that the ONE 166: Qatar event will feature five world title fights in Muay Thai, kickboxing, MMA, and submission grappling. More bouts are expected to be announced in the upcoming weeks.
