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DUBAI: On Thursday, Oct. 23, the Coca-Cola Arena will host Quintet 5, marking the Middle East debut of the new grappling format.

Four fighting legends will captain the teams, who will compete in the singles and team-survival bouts.

Here are five things for fans to look out for:

The pride legends reunion
For the first time in decades, Kazushi Sakuraba, Renzo Gracie, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Bob Sapp will share the same stage — this time as captains leading their teams of grapplers. The four helped to put combat sports on the map with legendary rivalries, world titles and unforgettable matchups. They have not been under the same roof together for some time, and who knows if this will happen again.

The quintet format — winner stays on, fight to survive
No points. No judges. Only submissions. The winner remains on the mat, the loser is eliminated, and the team that clears the opposition takes it all. It all makes for fascinating encounters and ones that not only rely on the capabilities of the fighters but also team tactics to survive.

World-class athletes and super fights
Expect elite competitors from judo, wrestling, sambo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu; these are multiple world champions, and highly decorated fighters who are masters of their craft. You will see fighters who have performed in the world’s biggest fight organizations — but are now brought together for the first time in the Middle East.

Lots of local and regional interest
Everywhere you look, there is great local and regional talent represented, whether this be Pouya Rahmani, Thiago Sa and Mido Mohammed on Team Nogueira, local favorite Haisam Rida on Team Sakuraba, or Talison Soares on Team Gracie. While in singles action, Kuwait’s Ahmed Al-Boussairy and Abood Maklef from Iraq will meet in a hotly anticipated all-Middle East rematch. Local fans will see lots of familiar faces, and realize some of the best fighters in the world are already here in the region.

The start of a new era
Quintet 5 is just the beginning. With plans to spread the format across the Middle East, the event signals the dawn of a new chapter for competitive grappling in the region. This is not a one-off event, it is an event with a legacy — and that will only nurture and develop fighting talent in the UAE and wider region.