ADGS Abu Dhabi: Masters take the stage on the first day of the tournament

May 16, 2025

Marking the beginning of the end for the 2024-2025 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Tour makes its way back to the UAE for one last tournament before the rankings are reset. Taking place at the renowned Mubadala Arena, the ADGS Abu Dhabi was kicked off this Friday, May 16th, with athletes from the Master and Amateur categories rising to the mats and fighting tooth and nail for the coveted ADGS gold medal, this time under a brand-new sponsorship from technological powerhouse EDGE Group.

Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group, said: "EDGE is proud to be a key sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour, a global championship that showcases elite athleticism, discipline, and dedication. This prestigious event embodies the very principles that define our work as an international organisation - precision, strategy, and resilience in the face of today’s challenges. Through this partnership, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting platforms that inspire individuals, empower communities, and unite people through shared ambition and purpose on an international scale. At EDGE, we recognise the power of sport to transcend boundaries and promote values that resonate across sectors, from competitive arenas to the frontlines of defence and technology.”

Highlighting the first day of the tournament, the Master 1 category was on fire with its black belts showcasing both their technical prowess and experience as they fought to take the top spot on the podium. Starting with the men, Gevorg Arutyunyan took the 56kg title after locking a tight choke from the back on Rafael Gonçalves, while the 62kg division saw the rise of Valmecir Junior, who outscored Jonathan França by 2-0 in the final match of the bracket. In the 69kg division, Dzhimsher Razmadze submitted two opponents and then beat the favorite Thiago Macedo for the title, while Thiago Marques landed a winning footlock on Adriano Araujo to conquer the 77kg gold. Up on the heavier weight classes, Ives Sacramento scored last in a 3-3 tie to beat Artem Kaigarodov in the 85kg final, Pablo Aragão outscored Jackson Sousa by 3-1 for the 94kg title, and Felipe Bezerra reasserted his dominance over the 120kg division after beating Wallace Costa with a 6-0 score.

On the women's side, Mira Balboa outscored both Tatiana Silva and Flavia Quintarelli in a round-robin for the 49kg gold, while Ariadne de Oliveira did the same but with submissions against Luiza Bedani and Kaisa Paunu to become the 55kg champion. The 62kg favorite Lina Grosset added another title to her resumé after beating Estela Lima with a narrow 1-0 score, Enaile dos Anjos defeated Priscilla Santos by 2-1 in the 70kg final, and Marcelle Cantanhede ruled over the 95kg division after overcoming Alevtina Korosteleva by 7-0.

With the first day down for the count, the ADGS Abu Dhabi now prepares to continue the action and welcome the Youth category this Saturday, May 17th. Watch all the action live and exclusively on the TX7.com platform, and be sure to follow @ajptour on social media to keep up-to-date on all things ADGS.