Emirati fighter Balqees Al Hashmi triumphed over her Russian rival Maria Odintsova in a thrilling Jiu-Jitsu showdown within a steel cage, executing an Omoplata submission at the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship (ADXC5) on Friday night. "This fight was all I could think about; it kept me awake and excited. I arrived early, warmed up, and felt ready and calm," Balqees shared with Khaleej Times following her win in a lively atmosphere at Mubadala Arena.
Making her debut in cage fighting, the 20-year-old from Abu Dhabi showcased her grappling prowess. "My intensive training regimen, including three sessions a day, and dietary adjustments were crucial. It was challenging but manageable," she explained. Balqees immediately took control on the mat, utilizing her grappling tactics and the cage to her advantage.
"Entering the cage felt empowering, and I adapted swiftly. I used the cage to bypass her defenses and maintain positional dominance, which helped me secure more attacks," Balqees detailed, referring to her decisive victory with scores of 30-27, 29-27, and 30-26 across three rounds. She emphasized her focused aggression in the first round and her determination to dominate the final round despite a leg injury.
Balqees acknowledged her opponent's capabilities, noting, "I studied her previous fights and knew her strengths in leg attacks. I aimed for a submission and nearly succeeded, but she defended well. I capitalized on her fatigue to increase my attacks and mobility." She concluded by expressing her gratitude to her supporters and readiness for future challenges.
