MOD UAE crowned champions at AJP Tour Dubai International Jiu-Jitsu Championship

AJP Tour Dubai International Jiu-Jitsu Championship wrapped up on Sunday at Shabab Al-Ahli Club. (Supplied)
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Updated 02 September 2024
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MOD UAE crowned champions at AJP Tour Dubai International Jiu-Jitsu Championship

  • Commando Group finish second, while Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club took third

DUBAI: MOD UAE topped the medal standings when the AJP Tour Dubai International Jiu-Jitsu Championship wrapped up at Shabab Al-Ahli Club on Sunday.

On the final day of the event, which featured amateur and professional divisions, Commando Group secured second place, while Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club took third.

This year’s championship attracted participants from 74 clubs and academies from around the world, up from 64 last year. On the final day alone, 310 male and female athletes competed.

Youssef Abdullah Al-Batran, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “This round of the AJP Tour Dubai International Jiu-Jitsu Championship has been a great success. The event attracted some of the top international jiu-jitsu stars with black, brown, and purple belts, who delivered outstanding performances that captivated the audience. It also provided an excellent platform for our young talents in the youth and kids categories to showcase their skills, in line with the federation’s focus on developing the next generation of athletes.”

Al-Batran said the championship improved the standards of local athletes by giving them the chance to compete against seasoned competitors.

“The UAE athletes performed exceptionally well throughout the championship, earning several gold medals across various categories,” he said. “I would also like to commend the clubs and academies across the country for their strong participation and support.”

Meanwhile, Ali Omar Al Balushi, director of sports events at Dubai Sports Council, said: “We are pleased to be part of the sixth edition of the AJP Tour Dubai International Jiu-Jitsu Championship. This event underscores the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s commendable efforts in organising world-class local, continental, and international events, featuring top international athletes as well as Emirati champions who have won international medals.

“Dubai Sports Council values our collaboration with the federation, which supports athletes across all age and weight categories. Today, we see many Emirati champions competing in international championships and achieving top positions, thanks to the high standards of organisation. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation to host more championships in Dubai in the future.”

Paulinho Barauna, coach of Commando Group, said: “Our athletes have performed admirably. We always aim for first place, and our experienced coaching team plays a key role in that. Regular competition builds confidence and motivates the team. I am proud of our athletes who won medals today. As we prepare for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, these competitions help us identify areas for improvement. We’re progressing every day.”


Tuchel ‘in talks with FA’ over England manager’s job

Updated 1 min 11 sec ago
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Tuchel ‘in talks with FA’ over England manager’s job

It follows reports that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has been asked about his interest in the role
Tuchel, 51, led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 but was sacked the following year

LONDON: Thomas Tuchel is in talks with the Football Association about becoming England’s next manager, according to reports on Tuesday.
It follows reports that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has been asked about his interest in the role.
Tuchel, 51, led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 but was sacked the following year.
He has been among the bookmakers’ favorites for the England job since Gareth Southgate stood down after England lost to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.
Sky Sports said the German, who left Bayern Munich at the end of last season, was in “pole position” to become Southgate’s long-term replacement.
The Football Association declined to comment on the reports.
Lee Carsley was appointed as Southgate’s successor on a temporary basis in August, initially for the Nations League campaign over three international windows.
However, the 50-year-old, who stepped up from his role as under-21s manager, has since given mixed messages about whether he wants the job on a permanent basis.
Carsley, who has overseen three wins and a defeat, believes the job should go to the best candidate, regardless of nationality.
England have twice before been managed by foreign coaches, with Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello taking charge.
Carsley’s own chances of landing the job full time were severely dented by a 2-1 defeat at home to Greece last week after he named an experimental line-up.
“We’ve seen in the past that we’ve had different nationalities coach the team. The best candidate should get the job,” said the interim boss.
“I think we’d be putting ourselves in a corner if we didn’t, and we didn’t open our minds a bit.”

Crown Jewel and WWE Raw tickets on sale

Updated 15 October 2024
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Crown Jewel and WWE Raw tickets on sale

  • Crown Jewel takes place at Mohammed Abdo arena in Riyadh on Saturday, Nov. 2
  • WWE Raw to debut in Saudia Arabia for the first time on Sunday, Nov. 3

RIYADH: The General Entertainment Authority announced on Tuesday the release of tickets for Crown Jewel and WWE Raw to be held at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

History will be made at Crown Jewel as this year’s event starts an annual match pitting the WWE Champion against the World Champion for both the men and the women to determine the first-ever Crown Jewel Champion, a title made up of 50 carats of diamonds that will signify the best of the best.

Aiming to become Crown Jewel Champion on Saturday, Nov. 2 will be WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, plus WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax and Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan.

Fans will see their favorite WWE Superstars in action across the weekend, including Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest, “Main Event” Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre, The New Day and many more.

The arrival of WWE Raw marks the first time that the show will be held Saudi Arabia. Taking place at the Mohammed Abdo Arena the night after Crown Jewel on Sunday, Nov. 3, the episode will broadcast internationally on Monday, Nov. 4.

Tickets for Crown Jewel and WWE Raw in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, can be purchased at https://webook.com.


Riyadh can become ‘fight capital of the world,’ says AJ McKee

Updated 15 October 2024
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Riyadh can become ‘fight capital of the world,’ says AJ McKee

  • McKee all set to take on Paul Hughes at PFL’s ‘Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact’ at The Mayadeen on Oct. 19

RIYADH: AJ McKee, set to take part in the Professional Fighters League’s “Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact” on Oct. 19, believes Riyadh can become the fight capital of the world if it continues to make such an incredible impact in combat sports.

The American steps into the cage at The Mayadeen in Riyadh next Saturday in a pivotal lightweight clash against Irishman Paul Hughes. The big fight night in the Saudi capital city also includes the matchups of Francis Ngannou locking horns with 6’8” phenomenon Renan “Problema” Ferreira and MMA legend Cris Cyborg versus hard-hitting Brazilian Larissa Pacheco.

McKee said: “I think if they continue doing what they’re doing, then in the near future they can definitely claim being the fight capital of the world. I wouldn’t quite yet say that Riyadh is the fight capital of the world, but following the track record of the fights that they’ve put on thus far, they’re very big cards. It’s all the top names and big fights that everyone wants to see.”

By the end of 2024, the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation will have hosted six PFL events, including three PPV extravaganzas. The Kingdom is now regularly hosting the best bouts on the planet, and the 29-year-old Californian says fighters just relish fighting in Riyadh.

“I would say what makes Riyadh such a great city for hosting world-class fights is just the environment,” said McKee. “The people there are super loving and welcoming. The environment is ideal; there’s no drinking, there’s no smoking, so being a professional athlete is just ideal. You know that there’s no really bad influences around. It’s a healthy lifestyle and they just want to see the best.”

Saudi Arabia has hosted more than 100 global sports events since 2018, with 2.5 million international fans in attendance. The number of sports federations has increased by 200 percent in the last nine years from 32 in 2015 to 97 in 2024. Sports participation among the population also rose from 13 percent in 2015 to 48 percent in 2023.

McKee added: “Speaking from a personal view, I would say that Saudi is giving me an opportunity as an athlete to showcase my skills and not only their country. They’ve kind of opened up doors for athletes to travel and get outside of where their home is. It allows fighters to get out of their comfort zone by traveling and seeing new places, seeing new cultures, seeing new lifestyles and being able to experience that. You know, a lot of people don’t get to do that, so I think that’s big.”


Time for Mancini and Saudi Arabia to deliver in must-win World Cup qualifier clash against Bahrain

Updated 15 October 2024
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Time for Mancini and Saudi Arabia to deliver in must-win World Cup qualifier clash against Bahrain

  • After last week’s 2-0 loss to Japan, the Green Falcons cannot afford another slip as they sit third in Group C of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup

LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s World Cup qualifier with Bahrain in Jeddah on Tuesday is just one out of 10 games for Roberto Mancini’s team in Group C but there is already a feeling that this is a must-win clash in more ways than one.

The first and biggest is that the Green Falcons need the points after a mixed start in the first three games of the third round of qualification. A 1-1 draw against Indonesia was followed by a 2-1 win over China in September.

And then, last week, Japan came to King Abdullah Sports City and went home with a 2-0 victory. As things stand, Saudi Arabia are third, level on four points with Australia in second, and Bahrain in fourth.

Only the top two qualify automatically for the World Cup while third and fourth advance to the next stage. Japan have nine and are surely heading for first place. Mancini admitted as such.

“We knew Japan were strong contenders to top the group, and now we will focus on competing with Australia for second place,” he said.

At this stage, the Italian will probably feel that his team are three points short. Mancini would have wanted and expected a win against Indonesia and a draw against Japan.

Had that been the case then they would have been three points clear of Australia. With the Socceroos playing in Japan on Tuesday and likely to lose, a win against Bahrain would have put Saudi Arabia six clear.

That would have been a fantastic position to be in but there is no point thinking too much about that now. The focus has to be on beating their neighbors and hoping they end Tuesday three points clear in second.

Mancini also needs a win and solid performance to lift the mood. Losing to Japan is no disgrace. The Samurai Blue are the best team in Asia by some distance, but their clear cohesion, identity and playing style was in contrast to that of Saudi Arabia’s.

Mancini, at just over a year in the job, has still to stamp his identity on the team and there are doubts as to whether he has the players really believing in his methods. Any sign of progress in this regard against Bahrain would be welcome.

Ever since the start of the year and the Asian Cup, there has not been much to shout about.

Before the tournament started Mancini dropped a bombshell. Veteran Salman Al-Faraj and Sultan Al-Ghannam were left out of the preliminary list, then goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi was excluded from the final squad.

The coach accused them of not wanting to play in friendly games. The Asian Cup ended at the last-16 stage with the boss leaving the pitch and heading down the tunnel before the penalty shootout against South Korea had ended.

It is fair to say that there has yet to be a really exciting, impressive or surprising performance under Mancini, the former English Premier League-, Serie A- and European Championship-winning coach.

His willingness to look outside the big clubs for talent and also trust in youth has been refreshing but he has complained on multiple occasions about the lack of playing time that several players are getting at their clubs.

“The only problem we have, three years ago all the Saudi players played every game,” he said. “Today, 50, 60 percent don’t play in the game and this is the only problem that we have.”

The coach has a point. There are players who have found themselves down the pecking order as their clubs have signed world-class foreign talent. This is especially evident at both ends of the pitch: goalkeepers and attackers.

Firas Al-Buraikan has been a regular for Al-Ahli and Abdullah Radif has played a reasonable amount for Al-Hilal, but Saleh Al-Shehri has had little time with Ittihad and Mohammed Maran has barely featured.

It is not ideal but it is what it is and Mancini’s job is to get the best out of what is available to him.

It has not happened yet. In three games, there have been three goals: one own goal and two set pieces. Against Japan, they played with an unfamiliar four-man defense, did not look like scoring and there were issues at the back but they were against a very good team.

Now this is Bahrain and fans will be less accepting of excuses.

Even so, Bahrain won in Australia in the opening game, sitting back to frustrate the Socceroos and then hitting on the counter, and that may well be their approach in Jeddah.

They later lost 5-0 at home to Japan and then needed a 99th-minute equalizer to draw 2-2 with Indonesia.

Compared to the passing and movement of the Samurai Blue, this is going to be a more physical test for Saudi Arabia and it should be one they are more suited to.

It has to be because one thing is for sure, this is a must-win game not just for the hopes of a top-two finish but for Mancini’s future in the job.

A scrappy 1-0 victory would be enough but a free-flowing performance and a convincing win would go down as well as the sun over the Red Sea.


Dubai Basketball back to winning ways with dominant display in Serbia

Updated 15 October 2024
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Dubai Basketball back to winning ways with dominant display in Serbia

  • Victory ensures a record of 3 wins and 1 loss after round 4 of the ABA League

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball got back on the winning trail again in Europe’s ABA League following a dominant 87-74 victory over Serbia’s Borac Mozzart on Sunday night.

The win was marked by a powerful defensive performance that restricted the home team’s captain, Marko Josilo, to only six points across 34 minutes of play.

Dubai Basketball went into the round-four game in Cacak looking to bounce back from last week’s last-gasp defeat against Mega MIS — and they responded with an impressive performance to take their record to 3-1.

Danilo Andusic set the pace all night long for Dubai, with 16 points, while Ahmet Duverioglu had a game-high seven rebounds.

With Borac Mozzart focusing heavily on Dubai’s captain, Klemen Prepelic, they had no answer for Isaiah Taylor, whose 13 points, three rebounds and six assists proved decisive in handing the Serbian team their first home loss of the season.

By the end of the first quarter, Dubai held a narrow lead of 24-23. The hosts levelled the scores early in the second, but head coach Jurica Golemac’s side took it up a gear with captain Prepelic dropping a three-pointer when his team needed him most.

Nate Mason, who missed the last game due to an injury, added another two, but some strong play saw Borac Mozzart take a 33-29 lead.

Dubai’s Awudu Abass and Andusic then stepped up with crucial points including a three-pointer to turn the momentum and give their team a healthy 47-36 advantage at halftime.

By the end of the third quarter, Dubai had stretched their lead to 71-63, and in the last 10 minutes they held off Borac Mozzart to close out for a key win on the road.

The home fans gave the game a special atmosphere with their boisterous support of their team at the Cacak Sports Hall.

Dubai’s Jacorey Williams commented post-game: “It was loud, the fans here are great and they’re passionate; they let us know all night that there would be no easy points.

“It was great to leave with a big team win, but shout-out to the fans, Cacak Sports Hall is one of the toughest places to play.”

Dubai Basketball’s next game will be on Sunday, Oct. 20 when they take on Spartak Subotica at Coca-Cola Arena.