Abu Dhabi: He was the one most nervous about his performance and the fact that many believe that his hands hold the future of Emirati Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Hassan Al Rumaithi didn’t disappoint as he dominated cage to win a very impressive first round TKO.
The fight started with both fighters feeling themselves out, Italian Silviano Valenti trying to work the jab. It didn’t take long for Al Rumaithi to get a huge single leg take down and go straight into side control. Rumaithi then saw an opportunity and went for an arm bar submission, but Valenti blocked it and ended up in Al Rumaithi’s guard.
Utilising a butterfly guard, Al Rumaithi managed to kick Valenti off him and get back to his feet.
After a few exchanges Hassan managed to take Valenti down and go into side control again, this time he wasted no time to go into ground and pound, landing hammer fist after hammer fist. The crowd were on their feet, sensing the fight was coming to a close. Hassan took mount position and landed a flurry of punches. Valenti was looking for a way out, covering up and giving his back, but there was no escape. The referee stopped the fight and Hassan Al Rumaithi is victorious in his UAE debut with a TKO in 4:38 of the first round.
“I just want to thank my coaches and all the people who helped me train and the Abu Dhabi Combat Club for their support. I’m ready to fight anywhere any time they want,” said an ecstatic Al Rumaithi. Who was mobbed by members of the ADCC who came to congratulate him.
“I was trying for a submission win, but I’m very happy not only to win but to win in such a dominant fashion,” Al Rumaithi told Gulf News after the fight.
Al Rumaithi improves his record to 2-1-0.
His ADCC teammate Marcos Oliveira also put on a dominant performance with KO 27 seconds in the first round.
