Abu Dhabi — So, there’s this news from, well, earlier today, and it kind of caught my attention. It’s about QUINTET, that Japanese martial arts thing. Yeah, they’re jumping into the Middle East scene, and their first gig is happening in Dubai on October 23, 2025. Mark your calendars? Or don’t. I mean, it’s kind of exciting.
Anyway, this was all the buzz at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi—it’s a part of Fight Week. No clue why they call it that, but it sounds intense. So there he was, Kazushi Sakuraba, legend in his own right, and some guy named Tarek Suleiman, who’s apparently in the know here. Oh, right, and Mr. Yanagisawa, who’s like the big boss from QUINTET Japan. These names just roll, don’t they?
Oh, there’s this picture too, and I stared at it longer than I probably should’ve. The whole vibe was kinda electric. Ali Al Qaisi and Marc Goddard were there. Doesn’t ring a bell? Yeah, me neither until now.
They’ve got this five-on-five team grappling thing going, and get this—no points, no judges. Just pure, raw submissions or it’s a draw. I mean, that’s wild, right? It’s been a hit over in Japan and the US, so why not here?
Sakuraba spoke, and it was like poetry. No joke. “Abu Dhabi, blah blah, high regard,” you get it. They love jiu-jitsu here, and he’s basically saying QUINTET in the UAE is more than just a sport. Goosebumps moment. Applause—maybe even a standing ovation, but I wasn’t there to confirm.
Suleiman jumped in too. Not literally, but you get it. He talked about how this isn’t just a one-shot thing. “Building something lasting,” he said. Feels like he meant it. UAE’s becoming the place for combat sports, and QUINTET is ready to rock that boat or whatever metaphor fits.
Dubai’s event is just the beginning. They’re building a whole scene here, with teams coming from all over MENA. Long-term plans, a league, a talent hub—sounds grand, doesn’t it?
And that, my friends, is the rollercoaster story of QUINTET entering the Middle East. Chaos, excitement, and maybe a tad of skepticism, but it’s happening. Dubai, October 23, 2025. Be there—or, you know, don’t. Up to you.
