Mansoor bin Mohammed attends 'Road to Champions' tournament in Dubai

Photo: Dubai Government Media Office

His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, attended the exciting 'Road to Champions in Dubai' tournament held today at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. This event was organized by the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council.

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The event saw Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed watching some thrilling MMA fights. He was joined by His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, and Khalfan Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council. This tournament is special because it’s the first-ever competition of its kind in the Middle East. It's part of a larger international championship series for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), which is held in cities all over the world. The ‘Road to Dubai’ series ends in Dubai, highlighting the city as a top destination for world-class MMA events.

One of the highlights of the tournament was Emirati fighter Hadi Omar Al-Hussaini’s victory over Filipino fighter Roel Banales in the flyweight category.
The tournament attracted a large crowd, showing just how important Dubai is as a place for big international sporting events. The city continues to use its great facilities to support such events, reinforcing its position as a leading global sports hub.

A total of 11 exciting matches were held, with 22 fighters from 13 different countries, including the UAE, Russia, Ireland, the USA, Brazil, England, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and the Philippines. Some other thrilling matches included Irish fighters Nathan Kelly and Kenny Mokhwana, Russian fighters Khasan Magomedov and Nemkov, and Brazilian Clevers Fernandes, who also faced off against Russian Rinat Khavalov.

Other matches featured fighters like Egyptian Ahmed Sami versus Syrian Tarek Suleiman and Uzbek Mirafzal ‘Mirko’ Akhtamov against Englishman Mike ‘Levi’ Thompson. There was also an exciting fight between Irishman John Mitchell and Algerian Souhail Thahri, along with a match between Saudi Mustafa Nada and British fighter Haider ‘Darth’ Khan. The tournament even featured an amateur fight between Emirati Saeed Al-Hosani and Kuwaiti Talal Al-Qallaf.

The Professional Fighters League brings together some of the best MMA champions from around the world, along with top stars from the sport. The tournament is set to continue in the coming years, and with it, Dubai’s reputation as a global hub for MMA and other sports is only set to grow.