In the first round of the global tournament, Naser Al Baraki (69kg), Saeed Al Shamsi (69kg) and Saif Al Qubaisi (77kg) will be among the competitors to take to that mat at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation said: “We are extremely proud of our national team and Emirati players who have put in extensive work and dedication to raise the bar of the local Jiu-Jitsu scene in a global arena.

“Today, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam proves to be the most prestigious Jiu-Jitsu championship series in the world and is an ideal platform for the UAE team to evolve and secure a commendable position in the global ranking”

“We are confident that our national team will demonstrate a very high skill level and supreme professionalism underscoring Abu Dhabi’s aim to become the Jiu-Jitsu capital in the world.”

The Grand Slam tour will have its own world ranking and an increased prize value of over AED 550,000. In addition to the UAE national team, around 1,000 players from global Jiu-Jitsu academies will be participating in the tournament in Abu Dhabi.