7th Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship begins in Brazil Sunday

emirates7 - The Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship (ADXC 7) is set to unfold this Sunday, November 17, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ahead of the highly anticipated event, a press conference took place on Friday at Riocentro, offering fans and media an exclusive preview of the athletes and their outlook for the competition.

The event commenced with a motivating speech from IVSM General Manager, Tareq Al Bahri, setting the stage for the stars of the championship to take the spotlight. Grappling Main Event contender Rodolfo Vieira expressed his excitement about competing in his hometown once again.

“First, I want to thank ADXC for giving me this incredible opportunity. It’s amazing to see grappling evolve to this level with such strong support behind it. Competing in Rio de Janeiro is special, and facing Derek, a formidable opponent with outstanding wrestling skills, makes it even more challenging. This will be my first time competing under this unique ruleset, so I’ve been pushing myself harder than ever in training,” Vieira shared.

Derek Brunson, set to face Vieira on Sunday, exuded confidence as he took the stage. With the poise of a seasoned competitor, Brunson made it clear that he was ready to take on the Jiu-Jitsu icon on his home turf.

In the Jiu-Jitsu Main Event, Paulo Miyao expressed his enthusiasm about competing in Rio after nearly a decade.

“I’m grateful to everyone here today and to the ADXC organizers for this opportunity. It’s been almost ten years since I last fought in Rio, and there’s something unique about the energy here. I’ve been preparing by working on various aspects of my game, with a particular focus on my top game recently. But if I end up on the bottom, I’m ready for that too,” Miyao said.

His opponent, rising star and rookie black belt Junior Righetti, shared his gratitude and excitement for the chance to compete against one of the sport’s legends.

“I want to thank ADXC 7 for this opportunity. Being here is an honor, and when I received the invitation, I was genuinely speechless. Facing Paulo, a legend in Jiu-Jitsu, means everything to me—it validates all the hard work and sacrifices I’ve made to get here. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I’m confident. I’ll be hunting for the submission at every moment,” Righetti declared.

With anticipation building, ADXC 7 promises to deliver an unforgettable night of grappling excellence.