2009 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Preview
The ADCC Submission Grappling Tournament Comes to Barcelona
2009 has been a landmark year for the international submission grappling and BJJ communities. In addition to the regular annual International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) events like the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Mundial, the European Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championship, and the Pan AmericanTournament, 2009 also saw the first Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Cup. The latest in this string of elite competitions is the ninth ADCC submission grappling tournament, which takes place in Barcelona, Spain on September 26th and 27th.
Abu Dhabi Combat Club - The Epitome of Submission Grappling Tournaments
The Abu Dhabi Combat Club was started in 1998 by Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the son of Sheik Zayed, the former leader of the United Arab Emirates, and immediately became the pinnacle of the international submission grappling tournament circuit. A handpicked roster of elite fighters representing the worlds of wrestling, judo, sambo, MMA grappling, BJJ, and catch wrestling were invited to compete at the ADCC for the highest prize money ever offered for a submission grappling tournament.
The ADCC Highlights MMA Grappling
Now over a decade old and preparing for its ninth event, the ADCC remains on the cutting edge of submission grappling tournaments. One of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club’s success factors is the popularity of mixed martial arts. Because the ADCC’s unique rule system blends the techniques of BJJ, wrestling, sambo, judo, submission grappling, catch wrestling, and beyond, the fighting style of ADCC competitors closely resembles the “almost anything goes” world of MMA grappling.
ADCC-style Submission Grappling is a Key Part of Mixed Martial Arts Training
By blending all grappling arts, the Abu Dhabi Combat Club events have acted as a catalyst in the evolution of MMA grappling and of mixed martial arts training of top fighters. Since almost anything goes in the ADCC, competing fighters have become skilled in wrestling and judo takedowns, sambo’s leglocks, Brazilian jiu jitsu submissions, and the leglocks and neck cranks of catch wrestling. There’s no question that because of the ADCC, mixed martial arts training will never be the same.
Roger Gracie Sidelined by Knee Injury
One of the major disappointments of the upcoming ADCC is the loss of submission grappling superstar Roger Gracie as a competitor. A past Abu Dhabi Combat Club champion and multiple winner of the IBJJF Mundial, Roger has been sidelined by a knee injury and will be unable to compete in his scheduled superfight against Robert Drysdale, a BJJ black belt under Leo Viera who won the 2007 ADCC Absolute division in addition to a number of other IBJJF titles.
ADCC Superfight - Robert Drysdale vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza
Luckily for the fans, one fighter’s loss is another’s gain. Roger Gracie’s replacement as an opponent for Robert Drysdale in the 2009 ADCC Superfight is none other than Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. A dynamic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA fighter, Jacare has been turning heads in the fighting world with his aggressive and fluid style of MMA grappling. Look for an exciting fight when Ronaldo Souza faces off against Robert Drysdale.
Watch the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Live on PPV or Online
Submission grappling aficionados and fans of MMA grappling will be happy to note that they won’t have to travel to Barcelona to watch the 2009 ADCC tournament. The Abu Dhabi Combat Club will be available to watch at home through Pay Per View or Video On Demand webcast.
Wrestling is one of the key elements of the ADCC
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