QUINTET 5: Bob Sapp embracing legendary status as Dubai prep...

Bob Sapp and Team Bangtao

Bob Sapp is a force of nature – and is bringing all his energy and charisma to Dubai this week, as grappling organisation QUINTET debuts in the Middle East.

Standing at six foot five inches tall, and weighing 140kg at 8% body fat he is larger than life in every sense of the term. Grappler, kick-boxer, MMA legend, and movie star, the American, now 52 years old, will captain Team Bangtao in the innovative QUINTET format that sees teams of five fighters compete in a team-elimination format.

One member of each team starts the contest, with victory only occurring via submission. The winner stays on, the loser is eliminated and is replaced by the next member of their team. This continues until all member of a team are eliminated and the other is declared the winner.

Sapp made his name in PRIDE FC – a Japanese organisation that for a time was the world’s leading MMA outfit. Now he, and fellow PRIDE legends Renzo Gracie, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, and the founder of QUINTET Kazushi Sakuraba, will be reunited as they lead the four teams competing at Coca-Cola Arena on October 23.

“It’s like this nostalgia going on,” said Sapp. “So when I see the guys, I’m happy to see them, but then you have that pause and the competitive spirit and the competition comes out and I’m sizing them up and I’m saying, ‘Hmm, can my team beat them?’.”

Sapp is used to competing on the big stage but this week, will be firmly on the sidelines. Back when he was competing, size (he weighed upwards of 200kg when competing) and stature made his a superstar in Japan – with the TV numbers to match.

“I was fortunate enough to take one organisation from 300,000 to 300 million views in eight months. I graced the cover of Time Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and I currently hold the most popular televised fight in history with 54 million views.”

Team Bangtao consists of Kemoy Anderson, Lucas Barbosa, Alex Schild, Dong Hyun Kim, and PJ Barch, and Sapp is confident they can see of the challenges of Team Sakuraba, Team Gracie, and Team Nogueira.

“Team Bangtao is a team that is forged in fire.

“There are a group of fighters that met together in the gym and have been through a lot together. These guys have been through the trenches with each other. They’ve seen what it feels like to be that struggling fighter. They understand what it feels like to still have to get up in the morning and have to work. They’ve all come in to deliver a huge victory.”

Alongside the team matchups, QUINTET will also feature a number of individual super-fight on a night the likes of which Dubai has never seen before. QUINTET 5 takes place at Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday October 23. Tickets are available from https://coca-cola-arena.com/

Former Ultimate Fighter star confident Dubai can become a hotbed of MMA

MMA superstar Prince McLean says his sport is buzzing with the hope that Dubai is on the road to becoming a superpower of the industry.

With the UFC taking residence at ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, and signing a long-term deal to continue hosting fights, the eyes of the fighting world have been cast on the UAE.

Other promoters are also making waves in the region and beyond – with PaRus Fight Championship being at the forefront.

They return to Dubai on November 6 – promising to be bigger, bolder and louder version of their unique blend of MMA and entertainment.

The night will feature a unique synthesis of music and fight with the open-air Events Arena of Jumeirah Beach Hotel being transformed to house one of the most visually spectacular shows on Dubai’s sporting calendar.

One of the superstar names on the card is McLean.

The 35-year-old is full of experience, including an appearance on the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter series, and has completed all over the world – he sees Dubai standing in MMA and combat sports very much on the rise.

“You look at the PaRus line-up and it is so strong – the MMA world is really looking at Dubai and how it is growing a major player. Events like this, with the quality of talent on display is only going to add to that.”

While traditional hotbeds of MMA include the United States, Brazil, and the Far East, McLean says it is critical for the growth of the sport to have new territories emerge – and Dubai is perfectly poised to do so.

The city has already become a training base for some of the world’s top fighters, so the natural progression is for high-level events to follow.

“We need new territories to come into the spotlight and there are a lot of MMA greats based in Dubai now – and when you mix that in with the work of promoters such as PaRus it is getting strong and stronger,” said McLean.

“All those involved are putting in some major work in camps and this is going to be a few days full of explosive combat.”

McLean will bring his 8-8 record to Dubai when he takes on Petr Romankevich, and is promising to light up the JBH Events Arena with a dazzling display for the fans.

“I am in this to be the best competitor possible but I will put on a show for the crowds in Dubai and from what we have been shown the venue is spectacular.”

Professional Fighters League target marquee event in Saudi Arabia

The Professional Fight League

All it takes to make a name for yourself in combat sports is to score an upset.

We have all seen fighters over the years step inside the cage, catch an opponent looking past them and end up on the wrong end of the bout.

As the only MMA promotion to hold regular season, playoff and championship events, the PFL lays it all out in front of both the fighter and the fan. Win, and you advance to the next round – and move one step closer to achieving the richest payday in sports: one million dollars.

That is a number that speaks to every fighter from any given country out there. And that is one of the biggest reasons why the PFL has a distinct international flavour among its roster of world-class athletes including Kayla Harrison, Rory MacDonald and Ray Cooper III.

To close out the most recent season of action, the PFL brought its championship night with six million-dollar winners to New York City and the mecca of sports, Madison Square Garden. How will they top that?

How about Saudi Arabia?

Over the years, the Middle East kingdom has been home to such events as the heavyweight boxing championship rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr., along with a handful of WWE events titled Crown Jewel and even soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo in the Supercoppa Italiana in 2019.

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With advanced metrics on social media and superior technology inside the cage, PFL would be able to put on a show like no other in front of the world from Saudi Arabia.