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Breaking News: Mo Jassim Steps Down as ADCC Head Organizer – What’s Next for the World’s Most Prestigious Grappling Event?

Breaking News: Mo Jassim Steps Down as ADCC Head Organizer – What’s Next for the World’s Most Prestigious Grappling Event?

In a stunning announcement, Mo Jassim, the man widely credited with elevating the ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) World Championships to unprecedented heights, has decided to step down as the head organizer. Jassim, who has been at the helm for three ADCC World Championships, revealed his decision on social media, thanking those who have been part of his remarkable journey, from Sheikh Tahnoon to the athletes, media, and his team of collaborators.

Jassim’s tenure as head organizer was nothing short of transformative. Under his leadership, ADCC saw a surge in popularity and scale, catapulting the event from an underground grappling tournament to a mainstream spectacle. ADCC 2022, in particular, was praised as the biggest and most successful event in its history, drawing in record crowds and a global viewership. The tournament has grown in both its production quality and its ability to attract top-tier athletes, making it the most coveted title in submission grappling.

In his heartfelt statement, Jassim expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, writing:
“I would like to announce that I have decided to step down as the head organizer of ADCC. I would like to thank Sheikh Tahnoon for giving me the opportunity to be the only person to organize 3 ADCC worlds. Thank you to Guy Neivens for allowing me to move up from wristband boy to head organizer. Thank you to Seth Daniels and Shawn Fowler, we gave every event we organized everything we had and I am very proud of the work we accomplished. Thank you to FloGrappling for supporting me and ADCC, they were great to deal with.”

His appreciation for the athletes, media, and the entire grappling community was clear, as he noted:
“Thank you to all of the athletes that I have worked with the past 20 years. Also thank you to all of the media who supported us and helped promote ADCC and the sport.”

Though his departure may raise questions, Jassim remains optimistic about the future of ADCC and the sport itself, emphasizing that his goal was always to bring submission grappling into the mainstream:
“The sport has never been in a better place to break through mainstream, which has always been the end goal. My loyalty will always be to ADCC but any organizer or event that will grow the sport has my full support if needed. I look forward to being just a fan again.”

Jassim’s announcement has sparked widespread speculation about what comes next for ADCC. Who will be the next head organizer? Can they maintain the momentum and success that Jassim built? These are the pressing questions the grappling world will be asking in the coming weeks.

While some may be tempted to downplay Jassim’s achievements—especially amidst rivalries such as those sparked by the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI)—the reality is that Jassim’s leadership played a significant role in bringing ADCC into the limelight. His work ensured that ADCC became synonymous with high-stakes, high-quality grappling, and for that, his legacy in the sport remains secure.

As Jassim steps away from his role, the question lingers: Who should take over the reins? Will it be someone already deeply embedded in the grappling community or a fresh face with a vision to push the sport even further? Whoever it is will have enormous shoes to fill, but they also have the opportunity to build on the solid foundation Jassim has left behind.

For now, Mo Jassim can look forward to enjoying the ADCC from the stands as a fan—a well-deserved change after years of hard work and dedication to making the sport the best it can be.

Stay tuned as the ADCC community waits to see who will rise to the challenge of guiding the world’s most prestigious submission grappling event into its next era.

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