Abu Dhabi: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) has announced that the 12th edition of the showpiece Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship (ADWPJJC) will be held from Feb.23-27, 2021.

The ADWPJJC 2020 was scheduled to be run from Nov.17-21 2020 but was postponed in order to allow international athletes to travel to Abu Dhabi and compete in the largest and most prestigious event on the global jiu-jitsu calendar.

Abdul Munam Al Hashemi, Chairman, UAEJJF, said that while Abu Dhabi was fully prepared to host elite sporting events such as the ADWPJJC in November and preparations for the tournament were almost finalised, the decision to reschedule to February is to ensure as many athletes as possible are given the chance to compete.

“The ADWPJJC has evolved to become the highlight of the global jiu-jitsu calendar and the most coveted championships for athletes from all over the world. Given the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements in several countries, the decision to move the 12th ADWPJJC to February 2021 will allow more international fighters to travel to Abu Dhabi and take part in this internationally-acclaimed tournament,” said Hashemi.

“Moving the championship also gives the athletes more time for valuable training time to ensure the highest standards of competition on the mat.”

The UAEJJF board of directors also ratified the decision to increase the total prize fund for the UAEJJF 2021 domestic season. The schedule for the 2021 domestic season was also approved, with the UAEJJF planning to hold a series of preliminary tournaments in November and December, giving athletes valuable match practice before the regular domestic season commences in January 2021, with stringent health and safety measures in place.

Preparations for the UAE national jiu-jitsu team’s participation in the 6th Asian Beach Games and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2021, to be held in China and Thailand respectively, were also reviewed by the UAEJJF’s board of directors. The technical staff were directed to ensure that the team is ready to compete for medals.

In the 11th edition held in 2019, Abu Dhabi solidified its standing as the sport’s global home following an action-packed finale.

With numerous world No. 1 athletes in action, the finals of the week-long ADWPJJC 2019 saw 24 athletes from nine countries – Belgium, Brazil, France, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, UK, USA and UAE - contest 12 World Pro titles in seven male black belt weight divisions and five female brown / black belt weight divisions.

At the end of 12 thrilling matches on the Mubadala Arena mats, Brazil topped the country rankings with a stunning total of 11 gold medals and 3 silvers. The UAE and the UK tied second overall with two silver. Norway came third with one gold.

The UAE won two silver medals through Faisal Al Ketbi in the men’s 85kg division and his colleague Yahia Al Hammadi in the 110kg division.

In the men’s 110kg division, superstar Brazilian heavyweight Joao Gabriel Rocha, of Soul Fighters Team, submitted Al Hammadi while leading 4-0, whereas in the 85kg final, a split decision by judges saw the UAE’s Al Ketbi lose to Brazil’s Rudson Matheus, 23, of Brasa Cta Team.