Suleiman ready to face Vettori at ADXC

With less than a week until the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship (ADXC 1) kicks off, fight enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an unforgettable evening of top-class competitions.

The event features an intriguing fight card, including Tarek Suleiman, who is gearing up to meet former Venator FC Welterweight Champion and UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori, famously known as “The Italian Dream.”

The inaugural edition of the championship, organised in collaboration with the AJP, is scheduled for October 20 at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City.

“I’m looking for a tough fight from him, and I can’t wait to submit him. My message to him is, let’s put on a great show,” Suleiman said in anticipation of the fight. Suleiman, a Syrian mixed martial artist and a UAE Warriors powerhouse with 12 wins in his record, six of which were secured through submission, is prepared to utilise his formidable neck attacks to overcome Vettori.

Suleiman started his MMA career with two amateur victories and currently holds a record of 12-8-0-1NC with a remarkable 100% finish rate. He also boasts an unblemished 3-0 record in his MMA amateur career.

He believes that his MMA background will give him an edge over others during the ADXC1.

“ADXC is very close to MMA, and I believe I have an advantage over other jiu-jitsu athletes due to my ability to use the cage, footwork, cutting corners, and pinning them to the fence to my advantage, allowing me to take them down and gain an advantage.

“I’m very excited about this event; it’s one of its kind. I love grappling; half of my MMA wins have come through submission,” he said.

“There are a lot of big names on the card, so I’m pretty overwhelmed by how prestigious the card is. Looking forward to starting fight week and getting the ball rolling.”

With only a few days left until the big fights, Suleiman is fully engaged in training and preparations.

“Training has been great. I did my camp at Team Nogueira Dubai with Coach Thiago Sa, who has a great No Gi game. I’m looking forward to putting what I’ve learned into practice,” he added.

Suleiman said that when he had competed in jiu-jitsu before, he didn’t know the rules and the point system, and the opponents had an advantage over him. He’s expecting the opposite scenario at the ADXC. “The advantage for us is being aggressive and knowing how to use the parameters of the cage. So, it’s exciting.”

Suleiman said it is natural for an MMA athlete like him to move into grappling. “I think it’s a natural progression for my career to transition from MMA to grappling, which has always been my passion. I’ve been doing it for 15 years now, and I’ve been a black belt for three years. So, it’s a natural progression for me to jump in and test myself in this part of the game.”

In the No-Gi main event, Bellator fighter Neiman Gracie faces off against former UFC and WEC champion Ben Henderson.

Gracie carries the legacy of the Gracie name and his uncle, the legendary Renzo Gracie, while Henderson relies on his versatile skill set, including wrestling tools, aiming to secure victory with his formidable guillotine.

The ADXC card is loaded with top-tier talent, including Zayed Al Khateeri, Tayane Porfírio, Luiza Monteiro, Fellipe Andrew, and many more. The preliminary bouts promise intense action, with standout matches such as Abdul-Kareem Al-Sewady versus Islam Reda and Marcin Held versus Guram Kutateladze, among others.

Additionally, the women’s Gi duels at ADXC will showcase the incredible talents of Luiza Monteiro, Nathalie Ribeiro, Sarah Galvao, and Vitoria Gabriella, providing a thrilling start to the event.