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AL AIN: Fresh from his gold medal performance at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, Obaid Al-Ketbi will be among five Emirati athletes competing on the preliminary card of this month’s Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship.

The 11th edition of ADXC will take place at the ADNEC Centre in Al-Ain on Nov. 14. Organized by International Vision Sports Management, it will bring together elite grapplers and jiu-jitsu specialists from around the world, with a strong Emirati presence set to light up the cage.

Al-Ketbi enters the event in top form after claiming gold in the boys’ 56kg division at the Asian Youth Games, where he defeated Jordan’s Ziad Samara on points. He will face Brazil’s Victor Souza in a bantamweight bout.

“I’m excited to test myself on a professional stage like ADXC,” said Al-Ketbi. “The competition in Bahrain gave me confidence, but this is another level. I want to show that Emirati athletes can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world.

“Competing at home, in front of our fans, is always special. It’s a big motivation to perform well and keep improving with every fight.”

Also representing the UAE, Ammar Al-Hosani, who last week picked up silver at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Thailand, will face Dabyl Abdulla in a cruiserweight contest.

“It’s an honor to compete in front of our fans in Al-Ain,” said Al-Hosani. “Events like ADXC push us to perform better and raise the level of jiu-jitsu in the country. I’ve been training hard and can’t wait to put on a strong performance for my team and everyone supporting me.”

The prelims will also feature Mohammed Saeed Al-Ketbi taking on Brazil’s Raimundo Almeida in a bantamweight bout, while Hadi Abbas faces Felipe Fernandes in the featherweight division. Also on the card, Ghanim Al-Ali will square off against Joao Arthur in a showcase bout.

Al-Ali said: “Fighting under the ADXC banner is an incredible experience. It’s a great platform for Emirati athletes to gain exposure and test themselves against top international opponents. I’m ready to give everything inside the cage.”