WE Speak MMA
Women’s Strawweight Title Fight Headlines Stacked UAE Warriors 74 Card in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – With 24 athletes successfully making weight today, Abu Dhabi will witness another night of the best mixed martial arts action from the Middle East’s premier combat sports promotion, headlined by the women’s strawweight title clash which will see the reigning champion, Michele Oliveira (6-1) defend her strap for the first time against Farida Abdueva (8-2).
Both women have already tasted success in the Warriors Octagon, with Oliveira taking the split decision over Brazilian compatriot Lany Silva (7-3) last November after a five-round war to take the title. Her challenger, Kyrgyzstan’s Abdueva already faced a Brazilian foe in Abu Dhabi seven months ago, dominating Fernanda Silva (4-2) to take the win and earn her shot at gold.
The co-main event sees the current Intercontinental Featherweight Champ, Sylvester Chipfumbu (14-6) from Zimbabwe take on the undefeated Egyptian, Abdelrahman Essam (10-0) in a non-title fight whilst the Dana White Series Contender winner from Team Nurmagomedov, Rashid Vagabov (15-2) returns for his sixth promotional outing against debutante Marciano Ferreira (15-5).
Fresh off his massive upset win over local legend Ali Taleb (12-3), the Muay Thai specialist, Peter Danesoe (10-4) takes on the Uzbek powerhouse, Farkhod Kudratov (6-1) and the fan favourite Jaures Dea (13-7) from Cameroon makes his 16th walk to the Warriors Octagon to face Moroccan headhunter, Marouane Bellagouit (6-4). History will be made as the first Samoan to fight at UAE Warriors, Gase Sanita (5-5) from New Zealand will enter the arena to fight Jordan’s undefeated all-rounder Lisa Zimmo (5-0) before SBG’s Egyptian prodigy Flobater Fares (4-0) battles the heavy-handed Pinoy boxer, Ruel Pañales (6-5).
UAE Warriors 74 takes place on the 22nd of October at 19.00hrs in the Adnec Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and is available streaming worldwide on UFC Fight Pass as well as Abu Dhabi Sports TV.
The entire UAE Warriors 74 card:
Welterweight: Amirchupan Taygibov vs Karim Labdou
Bantamweight: Lisa Zimmo vs Gase Sanita
Flyweight: Bekhzod Abdurakhimov vs Ata Atdayev
Catchweight: Flobater Fares vs Ruel Pañales
Bantamweight: Murad Ibragimov vs Juscelino Pantoja
Featherweight: Jaures Dea vs Marouane Bellagouit
Catchweight: Sundet Aytkul vs Maycon Alcino
Catchweight: Ayissi Bessala vs Bashir Mustafaev
Bantamweight: Peter Danesoe vs Farkhod Kudratov
Catchweight: Rashid Vagabov vs Marciano Ferreira
Featherweight: Sylvester Chipfumbu vs Abdelrahman Essam
Women’s Strawweight Title: Michele Oliveira (C) vs Farida Abdueva
We Speak Jiu Jitsu
ADCC 2026: Felipe Pena Makes History, Helena Crevar Wins Gold and Scotland’s Mark Macqueen Takes Bronze
The 2026 ADCC World Championship in Kraków, Poland delivered history, a stack of new champions, and a strong showing for the United States and Europe — with Scotland’s Mark Macqueen reaching the podium in front of a European crowd.
Brazil’s Felipe Pena became the first person in ADCC history to win the absolute bracket twice, beating Roosevelt Sousa in the final. In the championship superfight, Yuri Simoes defeated Kaynan Duarte by submission after Duarte appeared to injure his shoulder in overtime.
American star Helena Crevar continued her takeover of the women’s divisions, submitting Anabel Lopez in the +65kg final to add ADCC gold to her growing collection. Fellow American Paige Ivette Clymer took bronze in the same division, submitting Elizabeth Mitrovic in 1:52 in the bronze-medal match. The USA also picked up silver medals through PJ Barch (-77kg) and Gavin Corbe (-66kg), while Austin-based Luke Griffith won his first ADCC world title at -99kg.
Europe enjoyed its strongest ADCC showing on record. Host nation Poland celebrated its first ADCC champion as Pawel Jaworski won the -88kg title with three straight leg-lock submissions on his way to the final, and Scotland’s Mark Macqueen claimed bronze in the +99kg division behind champion Victor Hugo and silver medalist Josh Saunders.
ADCC 2026 Champions
Absolute: Felipe Pena
Superfight: Yuri Simoes def. Kaynan Duarte
Men’s +99kg: Victor Hugo
Men’s -99kg: Luke Griffith
Men’s -88kg: Pawel Jaworski
Men’s -77kg: Magomed Dzharbaev
Men’s -66kg: Kennedy Maciel
Women’s +65kg: Helena Crevar
Women’s -65kg: Ana Carolina Vieira (submitted Sarah Galvão in overtime in the final)
Women’s -55kg: Jasmine Rocha
The championships also produced the weekend’s ugliest moment: a brawl broke out after the 66kg opening-round match between Dorian Olivarez and Bekzat Kapashov, with Olivarez’s corner — including Gordon Ryan — caught in the middle. ADCC disqualified both fighters and banned each for one year, with Olivarez’s father and coach suspended for two years.
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