Abu Dhabi — The UAE Federation of Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts has completed all preparations for the seventh edition of the UAE National MMA Championships, which will be held on February 7-8 at Shabab Al Ahli Club in Dubai.
The championship will feature a robust line-up of male and female fighters representing top clubs and academies from across the country, as the national competition continues to play a key role in the rapid development of mixed martial arts in the UAE. Organizers also expect a dynamic family presence in the stands, reflecting the sport’s growing reach and growing community support across the country.
The UAE National MMA Championships, the highlight of the Federation’s annual calendar, provide athletes with consistent high-level competition while showcasing the ever-improving technical standards of MMA fighters across the Emirates.
The federation confirmed that the championships will feature comprehensive age categories, which will strengthen the long-term development path of athletes. Categories include youth D (ages 10-11), youth C (12-13 years), youth B (14-15 years), youth A (16-17 years) and an adult category for athletes aged 18 years and over.
HE Mohammed Bin Dalmouj Al Dhaheri, board member of the United Arab Emirates Federation of Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts, emphasized the importance of this event and its wider impact on the sport.
“The UAE National MMA Championship No. 7 demonstrates how much the sport has evolved in the UAE, with the growing commitment of clubs and academies to develop their fighters through organized preparations. The Federation continues to support this progress by providing regular competitions and training opportunities, guided by a clear plan to build robust national teams capable of competing internationally.
“The role that families play in supporting their sons and daughters from the stands is equally significant as it creates an environment where sporting passion is combined with family support. This is in line with the vision of the UAE leadership to declare 2026 the Year of the Family.”
With a robust organizational framework, broad participation and competitive intensity, the UAE National MMA Championship No. 7 further highlights the growing profile of mixed martial arts in the country and a structured pathway to educating the next generation of athletes capable of achieving success on the international stage.
The most anticipated boxing matchup in recent history has been
confirmed.
Tyson
Fury and Anthony
Joshua are set to clash for the WBA super heavyweight title on
Dec. 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The fight
will air live on Netflix. It will be promoted by Turki Alalshikh's
Ring Magazine in collaboration with
Ultimate Fighting Championship and Zuffa Boxing head Dana
White. Both Alalshikh and White confirmed the booking on social
media.
Fury vs. Joshua will stream live on Netflix with the WBA super
heavyweight title at stake
While the matchup has been a decade in the making, it kept falling
through repeatedly for various reasons. Fans' hopes soared when
both Fury and Joshua signed deals with Alalshikh earlier this
year.
Fury defeated Mariusz Wach in his July tune-up fight. Meanwhile,
Joshua defeated Kristian Prenga that same weekend in his bout.
However, the contest was further delayed due to disagreements over
the location. Netflix wanted the fight in the U.S. to reach a
broader audience, but Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn insisted it
take place in the U.K.
“This will be one of the biggest fights in boxing history,â€
Alalshikh said following the announcement. “I am very happy to make
this fight happen for the fans.â€
Fury opened as a -180 favorite, while Joshua came in as a +150
underdog.
Mickey Gall will no longer enter the octagon this Saturday at UFC Vegas 121, but Sedriques Dumas will remain on the card against Luis Hernandez, the promotion announced Thursday.
According to the UFC, Gall withdrew from the card due to medical issues. Gall, who was set to make his first appearance in nearly two years, explained his scratch as something that popped up on his fight week medicals, but he was fine.
Hernandez (8-0) signed with the UFC earlier this month after a second-round rear-naked choke finish of Hugo Guillon on Dana White's Contender Series. He will re-enter the octagon 11 days later, one of the fastest turnarounds in DWCS history.
Dumas (10-5) will attempt to snap a four-fight winless skid, including a trio of stoppage defeats. He hasn't won a fight since August 2024, when he won a unanimous decision against Denis Tiuliulin.
UFC Vegas 121 will go on with 12 bouts, topped by a bantamweight main event between Raul Rosas Jr. and Raoni Barcelos. The co-main event slot features jiu-jitsu expert Rodolfo Vieira taking on Robert Bryczek in a 185-pound clash.
Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury is finally official with the heavyweights agreeing to meet on Dec. 11 in Cardiff, in the United Kingdom, and no one seems happier with the deal than Matchroom Boxing president Eddie Hearn.
Hearn has been publicly battling with UFC CEO Dana White about the date and location for the highly anticipated fight and it appeared the entire deal might fall apart in recent weeks. But then out of nowhere, a deal got struck and Joshua and Fury are finally scheduled to meet in December in the United Kingdom, which is where Hearn has always said the fight would take place.
“Dana White told everybody he's promoting the show, he's bringing the fight to America, he knows where the venue is, obviously we know that didn't happen,†Hearn told IFL TV on Thursday. “Dana White cannot be involved with this fight. Netflix clearly didn't get the memo. No one talks to each other. I speak to SELA and Turki [Alalshikh], Dana White is not involved in the fight and Netflix says ‘the fight is in conjunction with Dana White.'
“But as I've shown through the U.K. battle that we won, we stand by our contract and he cannot be involved.â€
Hearn claims White did everything possible to bring the fight to Madison Square Garden in New York but eventually everybody involved in the fight had to concede that Joshua vs. Fury needed to be in the U.K.
“Basically, they down talked, they gave up, they did everything they could to bring this fight to America,†Hearn said. “When I told them again it ain't happening, they gave up.â€
White hasn't addressed the fight since the announcement was made on Thursday but Hearn certainly feels like he's due a victory lap after promising for months that the UFC CEO wouldn't be involved in the matchup.
Now Hearn is doubling down on that fact while celebrating that Joshua vs. Fury is a done deal for December in the United Kingdom.
“You've lost,†Hearn said to White. “You did everything to bring this fight to America and rob the British fight fans of the fight. Give it up, son.â€