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Jiu-Jitsu & Judo

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam ends with five heavyweight and upper-weight golds

Ivanov, Lytvynenko, Bifov, Vukovic and Demetrashvili win the final-day titles as Teddy Riner watches

ABU DHABI — The three-day Abu Dhabi Grand Slam closed Saturday with the last five weight categories. Ivaylo Ivanov, Yelyzaveta Lytvynenko, Idar Bifov, Helena Vukovic and Irakli Demetrashvili took gold, according to Euronews. Judo great Teddy Riner attended and joined the medal celebrations. In one final, a Georgian judoka threw and then pinned world silver medalist Kokauri, giving him his second Grand Slam gold of the year. JudoInside had previewed the day as 130 judoka chasing five golds in the men's under-90kg, under-100kg and over-100kg classes and the women's under-78kg and over-78kg classes. After two days Azerbaijan led the medal table with two golds and two bronzes, ahead of France and Croatia. The final medal table was not available. The World Judo Tour continues as the LA28 qualification period runs.

Why it mattersThe finals set the late-2026 ranking picture as athletes compete for seeds and Olympic qualifying points.

Euronews: Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2026, heavyweights deliver a spectacular finale foreign · JudoInside: Majdov and Parlati on collision course as Abu Dhabi Grand Slam reaches final day trade · International Judo Federation: Abu Dhabi Grand Slam coverage primary

UPDATEJaworski one title from first No-Gi Grand Slam as Euro finals begin

Rome's medium-heavyweight final is set for Sunday, and the Pole is a defending champion

ROME — IBJJF European No-Gi finals day is Sunday at the PalaPellicone. Pawel Jaworski of Academia Gorila needs the medium-heavyweight title to become the first athlete to complete the IBJJF's No-Gi Grand Slam for the 2025-26 season. The federation says he opened Saturday against Samuel Gibson, and an open-class medal alone would not count toward the target. IBJJF credits him with five straight major titles after a double gold at October's Pan No-Gi in Secaucus. He also won the -88kg division at ADCC in Krakow last month, becoming Poland's first ADCC champion. He won both the weight class and the open class in Rome in 2025. Final results were not available at press time.

Why it mattersA title would give the IBJJF its first No-Gi Grand Slam champion and cap a season that has put the Polish leglocker at the top of the men's no-gi rankings.

IBJJF: 2026 European No-Gi event guide and storylines primary · IBJJF: 2026 Pan No-Gi Championship results breakdown primary · FloGrappling: ADCC 2026 Live Updates, Day 2 trade

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam doubles as an LA28 qualifying test

IJF counted 33 top-ten judoka and two world number ones among the entries

ABU DHABI — The International Judo Federation framed this week's Abu Dhabi Grand Slam around the LA28 Olympic qualification period, which is now fully under way. Its preview listed 395 entrants from 60 nations, including 33 judoka in the world top ten. Two world number ones, Aoife Coughlan of Australia and Raz Hershko of Israel, were entered. By the draw the field stood at 374 athletes from 59 nations, an attrition the federation did not explain. The IJF said athletes outside the top eight were targeting ranking gains that would bring a seeded position. JudoInside flagged Olympic champion Diyora Keldiyorova's return to the tour after becoming a mother. The Grand Slam has run since 2009, first as a grand prix, and is held at Mubadala Arena.

Why it mattersRanking points won in events like this decide seeding and Olympic berths, so even early-cycle Grand Slams shape the LA28 field.

International Judo Federation: The Road to LA28 Continues in Abu Dhabi primary · International Judo Federation: UAE Welcomes the Judo World at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Draw primary · JudoInside: Abu Dhabi Grand Slam opens with 374 judoka trade

MMA

UPDATENolan stops Moicano in Las Vegas as referee's stand-up call draws fire

Australian lightweight scores third-round TKO in his first UFC main event; Moicano and Hasanov taken to hospital for precautionary scans

LAS VEGAS — Tom Nolan finished former title challenger Renato Moicano by third-round TKO at 1:28 in the Halloween-night main event of UFC Vegas 123 at the Meta APEX. It was his sixth straight win. The result is clouded by a decision from referee Dan Miragliotta. In round two he stood the fighters up while Moicano held Nolan's back with a body triangle and was hunting a choke. Nolan then landed a knee and strikes that nearly ended the fight before the bell. In the third, Nolan reversed a takedown and finished with ground-and-pound. Moicano and Farman Hasanov, who lost to Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani by doctor stoppage on a cut, were taken to hospital for precautionary CT scans. In the co-main event, unbeaten welterweight Jacobe Smith beat Randy Brown by unanimous decision. Nolan is expected to move into the lightweight top 10.

Why it mattersA contested stand-up decided the main event and revives the debate over how referees handle dominant back control.

UFC.com: Moicano vs Nolan main card results primary · MMA Mania: Moicano, Hasanov transported to hospital trade · Bleacher Report: Moicano vs. Nolan live results

Adesanya-Magomedov Saudi card faces doubt as regional conflict clouds Dec. 5 date

Former champion teases his return against Shara Magomedov while a Russian outlet reports the event may be cancelled

Israel Adesanya is reported to return in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia against Shara Magomedov on Dec. 5 in Riyadh. Journalist Ariel Helwani broke the news, and the UFC has not formally announced the bout. Adesanya has all but confirmed it by posting a photo next to a promotional graphic of the matchup. The former two-time middleweight champion is on a four-fight losing streak. He has not won since knocking out Alex Pereira in April 2023, and he was stopped by Joe Pyfer in March. Magomedov is 17-1 as a pro, with his only loss to Michael Page. Bloody Elbow cites Russian outlet Vestnik MMA saying the Riyadh card is highly likely to be cancelled because of the regional conflict. That report says the main event would move to UFC Qatar on Nov. 21. The UFC has not confirmed any change.

Why it mattersThe fight could decide whether Adesanya's career continues, and the venue is now uncertain.

MMA Mania: Adesanya vs. Shara Bullet targeted for Dec. 5 trade · Bloody Elbow: Adesanya's return event reportedly likely to be cancelled trade · Sports Illustrated: Adesanya teases return

UPDATEBrady cites staph infection as UFC shelves Brady-Bonfim welterweight fight

Fifth-ranked contender says three days in hospital ended his Nov. 7 bout; Bonfim left without a fight

LAS VEGAS — Sean Brady has given the reason he left his UFC Vegas 124 main event against Gabriel Bonfim, which had been scheduled for Nov. 7. He said his knee swelled after a Tuesday workout and he could not walk by that night. He went to hospital the next morning, where he was put on IV antibiotics. Cultures later grew staph, and he stayed three days. Brady, ranked fifth at welterweight, has pulled out before. In 2021 he withdrew from a fight with Kevin Lee because of a foot infection, and in 2023 he withdrew from a bout with Jack Della Maddalena over septic bursitis in his elbow. The UFC did not find a ranked welterweight to face the sixth-ranked Bonfim at short notice. It instead booked a heavyweight main event, Johnny Walker against Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Reports say Brady-Bonfim is likely to return on a later card, though no date has been set.

Why it mattersA top-six welterweight matchup is lost, and Brady's repeated medical setbacks raise questions about his availability.

Sherdog: Sean Brady out of UFC Vegas 124 main event trade · MMA Mania: UFC abruptly cancels Nov. 7 main event trade · BJPenn.com: Brady reveals details behind injury trade