SME
• A tournament to be held in Dubai with the participation of local and international teams on October 23, 2025
• Quintet, a grappling competition with growing international reach
Abu Dhabi, July 28, 2025
The Japanese martial arts organization Quintet, a team-based grappling organization, announced the launch of its events in the Middle East and North Africa region, starting with the United Arab Emirates, the region’s most distinguished location for supporting sporting events and martial arts in particular. The tournament will be held in Dubai on October 23, 2025.
The announcement came at a press conference held on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, as part of Fight Week, which hosts a large number of international mixed martial arts events in the Emirati capital. The Japanese press conference featured Kazushi Sakuraba, founder of Quintet and a legend in mixed martial arts and wrestling in his country; Tarek Sulaiman, regional partner and veteran martial arts star; and a number of prominent fighters and representatives of local and international media. Yanagisawa, General Manager of Quintet Japan, also attended. The event received extensive regional and international media coverage and was attended by prominent figures from the mixed martial arts community, including Ali Al-Qaisi, one of the most prominent featherweight champions in the Arab world, and world-renowned referee Marc Goddard. Sakuraba, who received a standing ovation as he addressed the audience, said, “For Japanese martial artists, Abu Dhabi is a name we have always held in high regard. We have watched from afar as the UAE has embraced jiu-jitsu and elevated it beyond just a sport to become a cultural and national movement. Launching a quintet here is not only symbolic but also meaningful. People here understand the art. The government supports it. The athletes here live it.”
Tareq Sulaiman, a former quintet fighter, emphasized the vision behind the move. “This is not just a one-time move. We are here to build something lasting. The UAE has become a global destination for combat sports, and now it will be the home of team wrestling in the region. Through quintet, we aim to provide athletes with a new platform—one that prioritizes collaboration, strategy, and team pride.” The press conference highlighted the international importance of Quintet, a grappling martial arts competition originating in Japan. The competition is held in a five-on-five format, with the rules based on submission or a draw. Unlike any other wrestling event, it is fast-paced and strategically intense. This type of competition combines the spirit of martial arts and team spirit, making it technically engaging and audience-friendly.
It was also announced that the first event will be held in Dubai on October 23, 2025, and will feature local and international teams. Teams and clubs from across the region, including the UAE, will be invited. The vision is to build a strong wrestling league and talent platform in the Middle East and North Africa.
Quintet events were founded in Japan before expanding globally, particularly in the United States, where it has gained significant popularity and continues to expand to more countries and regions around the world.
