MMA
Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club wins the Hafeet Sport Challenge Championship Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club wins first place in the Hafeet Sport Challenge Championship
Al Ain, United Arab Emirates – Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club delivered a dominant performance in the prestigious Hafeet Sport Challenge, securing first place in the jiu-jitsu competition. Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club finished second overall and Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club finished third after the championships concluded on Friday at Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club.
The event attracted immense participation of athletes under 14, 16 and 18 years of age, representing leading clubs and academies from the United Arab Emirates. Competing in an open lane format, athletes showcased high-intensity matches featuring a variety of technical styles and tactical adjustments. The format raised the level of competition, challenging participants from all age groups to perform at the highest level.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Ain region, the Hafeet Sport Challenge is the largest sports event in Al Ain. The multi-sport festival features over 4,000 athletes competing in 36 disciplines, highlighting the region’s robust commitment to sports and youth development.
Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the Federation of Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts in the United Arab Emirates, emphasized the growing importance of jiu-jitsu in social sports initiatives.
He said the inclusion of jiu-jitsu in the Hafeet Sport Challenge reflects the sport’s growing role in promoting a hearty lifestyle. He noted that in the “Year of the Family”, the championships have additional significance, encouraging sports as a shared family activity and helping newborn athletes develop discipline and self-confidence. He added that the Federation’s goal is to incorporate jiu-jitsu into everyday family life, supporting the development of a physically and mentally balanced generation.
Saeed Abdullah Ahmed Al Jabri, member of the Hafeet Sport Challenge senior organizing committee, highlighted the event’s inclusive platform.
He said the championship brings together multiple sports and age groups under one roof, offering athletes a wide range of competition opportunities. He added that jiu-jitsu features prominently in the program due to its growing popularity and high competition standards, contributing to a well-rounded sports experience that reflects Al Ain’s robust sports culture.
Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club coach Zayed Al Kaabi described the tournament as a valuable benchmark for the evaluation and development of players.
He said about 150 athletes from various divisions had signed up for the club. He added: “The open lane format allows athletes of different levels to compete against each other, which helps them improve and gain experience, especially in the youth categories. We sent a number of athletes to give them a chance to compete and test their readiness, and our goal was to perform well and fight for the title.”
Parents also noticed the positive impact of the championships. Omar Mohammed Bashir, father of Amir from Al Ain’s under-14 team, shared his perspective.
He said his son’s participation boosted his confidence and ability to deal with competition. He added: “In this championship, we saw a change in how Amir handled competition. He was more focused and composed before matches and more accepting of the results. As a family, being there and supporting him made a massive difference and encouraged him to constantly improve.”
Bronze medalist Rashid Mohammed Al Hammadi from Al Ain Club, who finished third in the U16-55kg category, described the experience as challenging but rewarding.
He said: “I faced opponents with different styles and had to stay focused and adapt in each match. The open lane system gave me the chance to compete at different levels, which helped me gain experience and improve. I’m cheerful to win a medal and thank my coaches for their support.”
The championships concluded in a highly competitive atmosphere and with a immense spectator turnout, reflecting the continued growth of jiu-jitsu in local sporting events in Al Ain and across the UAE.
Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCUFC fan favorite Diego Lopes will make the full-time move to the lightweight division after his latest win at UFC Freedom 250.
Former UFC featherweight title challenger Diego Lopes is in a bizarre spot in the 145-pound title picture after suffering two losses to current titleholder Alexander Volkanovski. Despite making a strong case for a title shot with an impressive come-from-behind knockout against Steve Garcia at the White House, Lopes would likely have to win a few fights before making the case for another shot at the belt.
Lopes, who lost back-to-back title fights to Volkanovski, has also earned recent featherweight wins over Jean Silva and Brian Ortega. But Lopes is big for the featherweight division and has teased a potential move to lightweight for months.
Amidst his peculiar spot in the featherweight division, Lopes is taking matters into his own hands and making the move to lightweight.
Diego Lopes announces full-time move to lightweight, hoping for MSG return
In a recent interview with Ag.Fight, Lopes shared an update on his return to the Octagon.
“We're taking the leap in our career now; we're going up a division, in advanced talks,†Lopes said.
“We're hoping to fight at MSG in November.â€
One potential lightweight opponent is BMF titleholder Charles Oliveira, who was rumored to fight Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331 before pulling out of recent fight talks. Oliveira's teammate Allan Nascimento's tragic death leaves a timeline for the BMF champion's return to the Octagon unclear.
Lopes hasn't fought at lightweight in his UFC tenure, although he fought in a 165-pound catchweight bout against Dan Ige at UFC 303. He's fought as low as bantamweight during his combat sports career.
As the lightweight division continues to blossom with intriguing matchups for the rest of the year, Lopes' addition opens the door to plenty of possible bookings. We could be weeks away from getting news on Lopes' return to the cage.
Who should Diego Lopes fight next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCUFC CEO Dana White didn't waste any time getting flyweight prospect Bilal Hasan a fight after Dana White's Contender Series.
The UFC matchmakers didn't take long to find one of the best prospects in Mixed Martial Arts some work.
Flyweight prospect Bilal Hasan knocked out Mridul Saikia in 45 seconds to secure a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Hasan moved to 9-0 in his career with eight stoppages.
Hasan entered the Octagon on Tuesday night as the biggest betting favorite in DWCS history, eclipsing alumni like Bo Nickal, Jamahal Hill, and Sean O'Malley. The former Cage Fury FC flyweight titleholder is considered a generational talent among 125-pound fighters.
Just hours after signing his UFC contract, Hasan was scheduled to make his promotional debut at UFC Shanghai against another talented flyweight.
Bilal Hasan set to fight at UFC Shanghai just days after Contender Series KO
The biggest favorite in #DWCS history only needed 45 seconds to get this one done!
Bilal Hasan is UNBELIEVABLE inside the Octagon! 😮â€ðŸ’¨
[ LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/uyiENO9ltD
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 12, 2026
As announced on Thursday, Hasan will fight Nilson Rojas (9-0) at UFC Shanghai on August 29th.
Rojas will make his UFC debut after first-round stoppage wins in four of his last five fights. He most recently defeated Gonzalo Hanampa by unanimous decision at Inka 59.
Hasan and Rojas are both welcome additions to the resurgent UFC flyweight division. Flyweight champion Joshua Van will return later this year at UFC 331 when he faces Alexandre Pantoja in a highly anticipated rematch.
Hasan is one of the few Indonesian-born fighters in UFC history, after making his professional debut in December 2022. Jeka Saragih became the first Indonesian UFC fighter in February 2023.
A bantamweight matchup between former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong headlines UFC Shanghai. Former strawweight title challenger Yan Xiaonan returns in the co-main event against Denise Gomes.
Can Bilal Hasan win a UFC flyweight title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
Credit: Ben Roberts Photo/GettyFormer UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till is in hot water after a viral brawl outside a Liverpool pub.
Darren Till doesn't shy away from fights inside and outside the arena, as evidenced by multiple incidents throughout his fighting career. The former UFC fan favorite has made a name for himself after leaving Mixed Martial Arts, finding success in bare-knuckle and professional boxing.
In between fights, Till isn't afraid to push buttons on social media, getting into recent social media spats with current UFC fighters and boxing rivals. He's set to return to the ring against Yoel Romero in his Bare Knuckle FC return next month.
Till and bare-knuckle fighter Lee Browne have traded barbs on social media for weeks, with Browne calling Till a ‘s—house'. Browne has fought multiple times in the BKFC ring but hasn't fought since July 2025.
Till and Browne recently ran into each other outside of The Blarney Stone, an Irish pub, located in Liverpool earlier this week. It's safe to say their recent bad blood carried over into the streets.
WATCH: Darren Till, fighter Lee Browne brawl after social media spat
Watch a brawl involving Till and Browne below.
😱 DARREN TILL KNOCKS OUT LEE BROWNE OUTSIDE LIVERPOOL'S BLARNEY STONE PUB.
👊🻠💥Darren can be heard asking Lee, “Who's a sh*thouse? I'm right here now,†before hitting him with a three-punch combo that knocks him to the ground.
Darren Till (“The Gorillaâ€) is the Liverpool… pic.twitter.com/DTNxfs3mt2
— Skint Eastwood (@Skint_Eastwood1) August 13, 2026
As of this writing, neither Till nor Browne has issued public comment on the incident, and additional details on what led up to the brawl remain unknown.
Till parted ways with the UFC following a submission loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 282. He made his professional boxing debut last year against former UFC champion Luke Rockhold, earning a third-round knockout.
What is your favorite memory from Darren Till's UFC career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
Diego Lopes announces lightweight move, 'advanced talks' for UFC return
Top prospect Bilal Hasan booked for UFC debut just days after DWCS KO
VIDEO | Darren Till attacks bare-knuckle fighter outside Liverpool pub
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