Abu Dhabi PRO Jiu-Jitsu and ADCC Submission Fighting Held Together for the First Time

April 14, 2010 - PRLog -- APRIL 14, 2010 – TORONTO - Mixed Martial Arts Expo, Inc., the company behind MMA Expo - The Original MMA Expo (since 2005) - announced today that its upcoming June 12-13 event in Toronto will play host to two of the most prestigious grappling tournaments in the world. This will mark the first time ever that the ADCC Submission Fighting and the Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu-Jitsu Series will be held on the same weekend at the same venue. The result is an outstanding opportunity for North American competitors interested in competing in both types of tournaments.

“Mixed Martial Arts Expo has a track record of delivering a unique combative sports weekend that fans and competitors really enjoy and we are delighted to play host to these two world-class events”, stated Gerald Chopik, President of MMA Expo. “When it comes to holding the best submission tournaments on the planet most will agree that over the past decade the two Abu Dhabi tournaments have set the standard that others aim to achieve in terms of organization and quality of competition. In the submission grappling world, a division-win at either of their World Championships is equivalent to taking home Olympic Gold.”

Canada is becoming well-known for a growing and highly-talented pool of submission grappling and Jiu Jitsu competitors. “We would have been proud to host either of the Abu Dhabi tournaments at MMA Expo. To have both of these major events on the show floor on the same weekend is very exciting for grappling competitors, and especially those that want to compete in both tournaments. This new series of Canadian Regional Championships for both Gi and No-Gi competitors gives fighters a real opportunity to compete on the world stage and we are proud that MMA Expo can play a role in helping this happen.”

Reached in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Marko Leisten, president of the ADCC Federation, was keen on having secured Mixed Martial Arts Expo as the venue to showcase the ADCC Submission Fighting tournament. “This is something that we have been trying to put together for some time and I am very happy that we have finally secured the opportunity to feature ADCC events together with MMA Expo.  I am looking forward to coming to Canada with ADCC Head Referee, Peter Ivanov. We foresee a high-level tournament with competitors from Canada and the USA.”

The Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu Jitsu Canadian Open Championships on Saturday, June 12, is produced by Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Professor Fabio Holanda of Montreal. Among the prizes is an all expense paid trip to compete at the Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu Jitsu World Cup in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in 2011. The ADCC Submission Fighting Championships on Sunday, June 13, is produced by ADCC North American East Coast Regional Tournament Director, Emilio Novoa.  
   
Hamilton-based retailer and e-tailer, Fight Planet, is the official sponsor of both tournaments. “When it comes to knowing what’s happening in the submission grappling community across North America few people are more aware than Fight Planet owner Riccardo Ammendolia”, said Chopik. “Fight Planet has been a premiere exhibitor at MMA Expo since day one and Riccardo played a key role in bringing MMA Expo and the Abu Dhabi tournaments together. While many combative sport businesses have come and gone over the past five years it’s been exciting to watch Riccardo build Fight Planet to the point where it is now the Official Sponsor of these two prestigious events.”

Individuals interested in competing in either tournament at MMA Expo TORONTO June 12-13 will find more information at www.MixedMartialArtsExpo.com.


About The Abu Dhabi Championships
The Abu Dhabi Combat Club and the ADCC Submission Fighting Championships were the creation of a UAE national Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the son of then U.A.E. leader Sheik Zayed. ADCC Champions and top competitors are highly sought after by the leading MMA fight promotions like the UFC®, DREAM and Strikeforce. The expansion of Submission Fighting, led by the huge success of ADCC, has spawned amateur leagues around the world.  With each year, the number of competitors in these and other similar events has grown tremendously. ADCC Championships is and has always been considered the pinnacle of the sport. The creation of one visionary, ADCC, now in its 9th edition in 2009 has become the beacon of a new generation and a new sport that is gaining world-wide popularity.

All requests for more information about the tournaments themselves should be directed to:
   ADCC Submission Fighting (NoGi) - emilionovoa@aol.com; www.adccregionals.com
   Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu-Jitsu (Gi) - fabio_holanda@hotmail.com; www.fabioholanda.com

About MMA Expo
Mixed Martial Arts Expo ~ the original MMA Fan Expo launched in 2005 ~ is a unique, high-energy, interactive consumer show for people who love martial arts and the full contact sport of mixed martial arts, the fastest growing sport in the world.  The unique interactive model includes martial arts tournaments and demonstrations, martial arts and business development seminars and a show floor filled with apparel, gear, fitness and nutrition-based exhibitors.

MMA Expo also gives combative sports fans and martial arts competitors the unique opportunity to meet personally with some of the top professional fighters and MMA celebrities in the sport for autographs and pictures. Approximately 10,000 fans, 300 exhibitors and 30 MMA celebrities have attended MMA Expo Toronto events to date.

For exhibitor and tournament sponsorship information contact: Gerald Chopik, President, MMA Expo ~ gchopik@MixedMartialArtsExpo.com

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The Original MMA Expo since 2005 - A unique, high-energy event for fans/practitioners of martial arts and MMA, fastest growing sport in the world. Tournaments, seminars and the opportunity to meet some of the top professional MMA fighters and celebrities.