From November 11th through the 19th, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation is holding its biggest event of the year. The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu World Championship.
It is by far the biggest tournament that the organization has ever put on. Between all of the divisions, there is more than US$500,000 in cash prizes up for grabs. By far the biggest cash prize any Jiu Jitsu organization has given out. One of the most fascinating things is there will be prizes for all winning divisions, from Blue to Black.
To qualify for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, ADWPJJC prospects have competed in qualifying tournaments all around the world. The top points earners of those tournaments have earned the right to compete at the organization’s championship event.
Each division is stacked, and we will list the top ADWPJJC prospects that are set to compete. Everyone from the top black belts competing to the up-and-coming brown and purple belts.
Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship Program Schedule
Traditionally, the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship was a two-day event. However, in the last few years it has become a multiple day event.
Not only are pro-black belts competing, but also young rising stars, masters, para-athletes, and even kids. Here is how the schedule is set for the event.
- November 10th (Thursday): Weigh-ins for next-day divisions.
- November 11th (Friday): 10 AM Elimination and finals (kids)/1 PM Elimination and finals (Infant, Junior, Teen, Youth Division)/3:30 Finals Para Jiu Jitsu.
- November 12th (Saturday): Elimination and finals of amateur divisions.
- November 13th (Sunday): Elimination and finals of youth girls’ divisions.
- November 14th (Monday): Elimination and finals of youth boys’ divisions.
- November 15th (Tuesday): Elimination and finals of all masters blue and purple belts. Master 1 black and brown belts also compete in country qualifying brackets.
- November 16th (Wednesday): Elimination and finals of all masters black and brown belt divisions.
- November 17th (Thursday): Pro purple, brown, and black belt country qualifiers.
- November 18th (Friday): Main brackets of pro divisions and third-place matches.
- November 19th (Saturday): Finals of women’s brown/black belt and men’s black belt divisions.
- November 19th (Saturday): Awards ceremony.
Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship Prospects
As of now, the brackets for the tournament are still being set, but many top players have been announced. Here are some of the favorites to win each division at the Abu Dhabi World Pro.
Men’s Black Belts
Zayed Alkatheeri: Alkatheeri has been the most active athlete at 56 kg during the 2022 Abu Dhabi Pro season. He has earned his spot to compete in front of his family and friends in the UAE at the upcoming championship tournament.
Sultan Alowais: Alowais is another UAE native that has earned passage to the championship event in his home country. We’ll see what he can do in the 62 kg division.
Lucas Pinheiro: Lucas Pinheiro is a durable veteran that Jiu-Jitsu fans know well. Pinheiro is coming off winning at ADCC Las Vegas and is looking to win his first world championship in November.
Lucas Protasio: Lucas Protasio has been the most active grappler at 77 kg this year, which has earned him the number-one ranking. Protasio has won many gold medals this year and will take his shot at this biggest of the year in November.
Felipe Andrew: Felipe Andrew has been one of the most active athletes in the sport and has won numerous tournaments this year. The triangle choke expert will be one of the favorites in the super heavyweight division at this world championship event.
Erich Munis: The returning Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion, Erich Munis, is back to defend his title. Munis has established himself as one of the best grapplers in the world and is looking for another big cash prize.
Adam Wardzinski: The Polish master of the butterfly guard is no stranger to world championship competition. Wardzinski has competed against the best for years, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take home the gold.
Roosevelt Sousa: The Fight Sport superheavyweight won the AJP King of the Mats last year and took third in the world’s Pro Championship. He’ll look to improve on his performance last year and aim to sit on top of the podium.
Igor Silva: Silva is a master of the close guard and is pulling double duty at this 10-day event. The closed guard expert will be competing in both the black belt pro and masters championships in the super heavyweight division.
Men’s Brown Belts
Everton Souza: Everton Souza is a nineteen-year-old black belt representing Checkmat International. He’s one of the favorites to take home gold in the 56 kg division.
Khaled Mohammed Aleshehhi: Aleshehhi is the number one ranked UAE brown belt at 62 kg. He will have the home-field advantage going into the event and the top spot in his bracket.
Arthur Carvalhaes: The young prospect from GFTeam has been one of the most active brown belt competitors in AJP events this year. Carvalhaes’ hard work has punched his ticket to the Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship and a shot at the grand prize.
Fabyury Khrysthyan Teixeira Freitas: Freitas has recently earned his brown belt and was a top competitor at purple belt. He’ll look to continue his success at brown belt and take his shot at a world title.
Rui Neto: Neto has been among the best brown belts in AJP events this year, winning numerous competitions. The young athlete from Dream Art is one of the clear favorites to win the world title at 85 kg.
Luiz Henrique: Henrique is the current points leader in the brown belt heavyweight division. He has won his last five competitions within AJP going into the world Pro championship event.
Female Black Belts/Brown Belts
They mixed the pro-female brown and black belts at this tournament in the same division. Therefore, we put them together in the same section, since they compete against each other.
Ana Rodrigues: One of Dream Art’s best grapplers, Ana Rodrigues has dominated the competition in both IBJJF and the UAEJJF. She won the federation’s 55 kg title last year and is the clear favorite to repeat again this year.
Brenda Larissa: Brenda Larissa has come into her own as a competitor and gone undefeated in matches within UAEJJF Championships. Larissa won both Abu Dhabi World Pro events last year and is the clear favorite to retain her title this year.
Gabriela Pereira: Gabriela has been one of the most active grapplers for the AJP this year and won numerous matches. She has set herself up as the #2 ranked grappler at 55 kg going into the event.
Beatriz Mesquita: One of the greatest grapplers of all time, Bea Mesquita, is set to make an appearance at this world championship event. She’ll look to add another world title to her hall-of-fame career.
Thalyta Silva: Thata Silva has had an impressive 2022, winning the European Open and two AJP Grand Slam events. Don’t be surprised to see Silva on the podium once again to close out the year.
Julia Alves: Alves is one of GFTeam’s top female competitors on the international level and won gold in numerous AJP events this year. Her hard work has earned her three gold medals and a chance to earn a world title.
Ingridd Sousa: Sousa has been one of the most active competitors for the AJPthis year and is currently ranked 4th in points. Ingridd has medaled in just about every AJP event she’s competing in and is likely to medal in the world’s event.
Gabrieli Pessanha: The pride of Cidade de Deus, Gabriel Pessanha, has been nearly unstoppable for the last two years. She has already repeated as the IBJJF Worlds champ and will look to repeat as the Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion.
Purple Belts
Claire Del Sarto: Del Sarto is the best female purple belt in Switzerland and one of the best in Europe. She dominated her division this year to earn the number one ranking going into the world Pro championship.
Aigerim Kuatkyzy: Kuatkyzy is a Kazakhstan native, currently the third-ranked purple belt at 55 kg. Her hard work this year on the mats has earned her passage to the world Pro championship.
Dennis Souza: Souza is the number one ranked purple belt overall and is the heavy favorite to win gold at 94 kg.
Jefferson Alves Goteu: Goteu is the number one seed in the 85 kg division. He’s won numerous AJP events this year and is looking for a world title before going to brown belt.
Abu Dhabi World Masters Jiu Jitsu Championship 2022
From November 15th to the 16th, the Abu Dhabi World Master Jiu Jitsu Championship will take place. Nearly a thousand master athletes are currently signed up and ready to compete at the event.
This includes some incredible master black belts like multiple-time IBJJF Masters World Champion Bruno Bastos. Former Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Champion Igor Silva will also be on double duty, competing in both Pro and masters divisions.
Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2022
The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship is dedicating two days of their ten-day event just for the youth. Everyone from kids, youth, and teens are getting the chance to compete on the big stage and showcase their skills.
Not only are the kids getting to showcase their skills on a big stage, but UAEJJF has upped the stakes. All youth competitors who finish in the top two will receive cash prizes.
This is something that no other major organization has ever done and a great leap forward for jiu-jitsu. You don’t know the names of the kids competing at the event, but you soon will.
Abu Dhabi World Para Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone, and the UAEJJF is proving that at their event. They’re starting off their nine-day event with their Abu Dhabi World Para Jiu Jitsu Championship.
The promotion is bringing in some of the best para jiu jitsu athletes from around the world. Currently, they have over fifty para jiu jitsu athletes registered, and more will be included before the registration deadline.
Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship Summary
Next month, the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship will put on A 10-day tournament where the world’s best grapplers and prospects will compete for a share of the US$500,000+ cash prizes.
It is certain to be a great event, and you can catch all the action on UAEJJF YouTube page, AJP TV or flograppling.
