The event has fight fans across the globe talking, with a unique mix of QUINTET’s engaging survival format, a host of world champion fighters, local heroes – and the history that four captains who put combat sports on the map over two decades ago have together. Next Thursday will see QUINTET’s five-on-five team format come to the Middle East for the very first time. Four teams will take part in a bracket, with two semi-finals and a final. Each match starts with one fighter from either side, and the only path to victory is by submission. The winner stays on to face the next challenger, while a draw means both fighters are out. The battles continue until one team loses all five members — leaving the other standing as the ultimate victor. The event will see the reunion of four of PRIDE FC’s biggest stars: Kazushi Sakuraba (the founder of QUINTET), Renzo Gracie, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Bob Sapp, who are team captains for the night. Each has their own place in history with storied battles and multiple world championships between them across numerous organisations and combat sport disciplines. The four have not been under the same roof in years — and may not be again — making this a truly unique opportunity for fans in Dubai. On the mat, locally-based stars such as Thiago Sa, Talison Soares, and Pouya Rahman will be joined by global icons including former UFC talent Dong Hyun Kim. In addition to the team format, there will also be several high-profile individual super-fights, including John Jones from the UK taking on Samuel Ramalho representing Brazil at heavyweight, and Pablo Aragão facing Wesley Felix at 95kg. While the event was founded in Japan, it has been regionally promoted by one of the Middle East’s leading combat sports talents – Tarek Suleiman. Based in Dubai, Suleiman is a hero of the regional fight scene, his 13-9 MMA record showing almost half his wins coming via submission – a grappling prowess that saw him compete in QUINTET himself back in 2018, making him the perfect person to bring the event to the UAE. Tarek Suleiman said: “In one week’s time we are going to give the Coca-Cola Arena and the people of Dubai, the UAE, and wider Middle East a show like nothing they have seen before. Set aside my interest in the event, as a fan of combat sport this has me more excited than I have been in years. To bring together the captains we have, along with the talent that is going to be out there competing on the mat, is basically unheard of – it has never been seen before. Everyone in the arena that night is going to be a part of history – and I cannot wait!” QUINTET 5 will take place at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai on Thursday, October 23. Tickets are on sale now with prices starting at AED190.