ADXC 4: Athletes open up about their expectations and strategies at the Press Conference

May 16, 2024

Drawing closer by the day, the ADXC 4 is betting on the tried and true formula used by its predecessors to draw even more eyes to its tournament. With the event being held in France this time around, the organization held the official press conference this Thursday, May 16th, giving athletes the chance to answer questions from the press and fight fans, in addition to talking about their expectations for the upcoming competition, which takes place on May 18th. 

Alongside Mr. Tareq Al Bahri, the IVSM's General Manager, eight of the competitors from the main fights in the tournament sat at the table, presented by Hywel Teague. Benoit Saint Denis and Marc Diakiese, the stars from the Grappling Main Event; Espen Mathiesen and Leon Larman, who lead the Jiu-Jitsu Main Event; Ffion Davies and Morgan Black, from the Grappling Co-Main Event; and last but not least, Leonardo and Khaled Alshehhi, from the Jiu-Jitsu Co-Main Event.

One of the press conference's high points was Mr. Tareq's speech, in which he spoke about the ADXC and its mission of improving both the sport and the lives of its athletes. Mr. Tareq also highlighted that the sport's benefits go far beyond the physical gains and how this competition would give local athletes a chance to reach the spotlight on the international scene.

"Our main goals with this tournament, which is now in its fourth edition, is to consolidate its strength while adding it to our previous successes, improve the athletic capabilities of Jiu-Jitsu and MMA practitioners, and establish our firm belief in the importance of sport and its pivotal role in supporting the bonds of friendship and acquaintance, especially between the UAE and the Republic of France. We are pleased with the participation of 28 male and female athletes from 15 countries in this tournament that will bring together the elite of Jiu-Jitsu and grappling stars from all over the world, all while providing a greater opportunity for European and French talents to demonstrate their abilities as they compete at a high level."

Shifting to the competitors, one of the most popular athletes at the table was the French Benoit Saint Denis, who received many questions throughout the conference, including one from his opponent Marc Diakiese.

“It’s a privilege to be here”, started Saint Denis. “Having an octagon staged at the Dojo de Paris is a great advance for any combat sport. I thank my coaches for making me a performance machine. I want to be active during the fight and take this opportunity to show the skills I've been honing with my coaches, all while having fun. Life is short.”

“Do you think I came here to play?”, Diakese retorted. “If I beat you here, will you fight me again, with punches? I’m confident in the win. People have not seen much of my grappling, and I’ve wrestled and grappled for a long time. I came to prove my skills and dominate inside the octagon. The pressure is all on him, he needs to deliver a good performance to his crowd. I’m here to have fun.”

Apart from the heated exchanges between Saint Denis and Diakiese, the conference also featured respectful and punctual statements by both Espen Mathiesen and Leon Larman, who'll face off in the Jiu-Jitsu Main Event. Being an ADXC veteran, Mathiesen made it clear that he'll be using his mileage at the tournament to his favor.

“It’s good to come from a win in the ADXC”, said Espen. “I already fought and won in this ruleset, with three minutes in each round. My goal is to open my game and chase the submission. I'll need to take some risks and use my game well to balance winning with entertaining the fans."

Meanwhile, France's Leon Larman is determined to use this opportunity to showcase the high level of French Jiu-Jitsu, bringing joy to the local fans.

"I was thrilled with the invitation", opened Larman. "Jiu-Jitsu in France is always improving, and this is a great chance to show how our style works against the best athletes in the world. The ADXC ruleset gives us the chance to worry less about positions and focus on the submission. It's the right recipe to entertain the fans." 

Leading the Grappling Co-Main Event, Ffion Davies and Morgan Black see their upcoming duel as a chance to show the best side of women's Jiu-Jitsu. A champion in multiple organizations including the ADXC, Davies talked about her career and how fighting in the ADXC is special to her, as the tournament presents a platform in which she can go all-out without the usual pressure.

“It’s good to be back fighting in Europe”, said Davies. "I fought the ADXC in January and it was amazing. It feels great to fight at this point in my career. I don't have that pressure from the first years as a black belt. I accomplished a lot and now I’m having fun using my skills.”

For Black, the tournament not only gives her the chance to show her skills against elite opponents but also provides a good opportunity to raise the flag of women's Jiu-Jitsu, paving the way for the next generation to make a better living off the sport. 

“It’s my first time in Paris and everything is amazing”, said Morgan. “Fighting Ffion is a good way to see where I’m standing against the best in the sport and to plan my career's next steps. I started training 12 years ago and went from not having many female training partners to seeing us reaching the main event of big tournaments. It feels great to see the sport's growth, how it values competence and pays its athletes well. It's awesome to see and to be a part of it."

As for Leonardo Mario and Khaled Alshehhi, the Jiu-Jitsu Co-Main Event stars, their upcoming fight in the ADXC presents an alluring chance to show more of their fighting styles without worrying about points as they seek the submission. In fact, Mario took the spirit of not worrying about things a step further and did not mince words about his expectations for the duel.

"I'm happy to be making my first appearance in the ADXC", he started. "My aggressive and submission-focused game got me here. I have submitted Khaled before and I'll be doing that again to show I'm a better fighter."

With both fighters being AJP regulars, they have met each other in the organization. In response to Mario's remarks, a calmer but still sharp Khaled opened up about his fight strategy.

"I'm not much of a talker, but I'll be taking his back", revealed Khaled. "I'll either go for the neck or the foot. I won't need to worry about guard passing or earning points, I'll be constantly looking to submit."

Make sure to follow @adxcofficial and go to TX7.com on May 18th to watch every second of the action live. Check out the full card below, and we'll see you in Paris!

ADXC 4

Paris, France

May 18, 2024

Main Event

Benoit Saint Denis vs Marc Diakiese (Grappilng Bout)

Espen Mathiesen vs Leon Larman (Jiu-Jitsu Bout)

Co-Main Event

Ffion Davies vs Morgan Black (Grappling Bout)

Leonardo Mario vs Khaled Al Shehhi (Jiu-Jitsu Bout)

Main Card

Abdul-Kareem Al Sewady vs Amin Ayoub (Grappling Bout)

Cassio Silva vs Marko Oikarainen (Jiu-Jitsu Bout)

Narhiely de Jesus vs Elizabeth Mitrovic (Grappling Bout)

Magdalena Loska vs Nia Blackman (Jiu-Jitsu Bout)

Steven Ray vs Ibrahima Mane (Grappling Bout)

Prelims Card

Florian Bayili vs Youness Bennouali (Jiu-Jitsu Bout)

Geo Martinez vs Nicolas Renier (Grappling Bout)

Luca Anacoreta vs Kalim Mastouri (Jiu-Jitsu Bout)

Alexander Alexandrov vs Kasper Larsen (Grappling Bout)

Shamma Al Kalbani vs Lina Grosset (Jiu-Jitsu Bout)