A top UAE official insists the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship should be considered as the sport’s best global tournament after details of its biggest ever edition were revealed.

The 10-day event, from April 15 to 24, will include the youth and adult competitions as well as the jiu-jitsu festival with the emphasis on
attracting youngsters to the sport.

For the first time in the tournament’s history, current and retired legends will also compete in exhibition matches.

With a prize fund of more than Dh2.5 million and with more than 4,000 competitors flocking to the capital, Fahad Al Shamsi, UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s chief executive insists the eighth edition will raise the bar.

“The event can certainly attract a lot of attention and will give all the mileage that the sport needs around the globe,” he said.

“It’s a great chance for everyone to learn more about the sport and be involved. It’s not only a competition. This is the history of the sport. What we want to do is not just consume the sport, we now want to take it a level up.

“This is the best jiu-jitsu competition in the world in terms of organisation and from the matches you will see on the mats.”

Defending Open champions Marcus Almeida and Mackenzie Dern, who triumphed in the men’s and women’s categories last year will defend their titles at the IPIC Arena. Another competitor taking to the mat is Brazil’s Marina Ribeiro.

After winning gold on the Abu Dhabi Slam twice this season, she is eyeing another in the capital.

“It is a very big platform for us. I wasn’t training much last season but this year I’m ready,” she said.