Mohammed Jassim Al Housani, a 25-year-old UAE national from Abu Dhabi, has been appointed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as its first ever Arabic commentator and analyst.

Working in partnership with Flash Entertainment, the region’s premier live events company who are bringing UFC 112 to the capital, Al Housani has also been appointed as a member of the organizing committee for the showpiece event.

The UFC 112 Abu Dhabi will be the first ever UFC outdoor fight, taking place on April 10 at a custom-built all-seated arena outside Ferrari World, Yas Island.

Al Housani is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and advocate of the sport in the region. He will commentate on UFC 112 Abu Dhabi for the Orbit Showtime Network’s live airing of the event, which will be the first time ever the UFC has used Arabic in its telecasts.

An excited Al Housani said: “It’s a huge honor for me to be involved in 'UFC 112 Invincible' live in Abu Dhabi. My involvement in this event will help propel the sport of Mixed Martial Arts across the region.'

'I am proud to be appointed as the UFC’s first ever Arabic analyst, which will give me the opportunity to rub shoulders with – and learn from – some of the legendary voices of the sport,' he added.

Al Housani has been following UFC since 1997 and was one of the first in the region to join the UFC Fan Club in 2006.

He is an active promoter of jiu-jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in the region and has also trained with legends of the sport including Royce Gracie, Rolles Gracie, Daniel Gracie, Jean Jacques Machado, Michel Maia and 2009 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Champion Rafael Mendes.

John Lickrish, managing director of Flash Entertainment, said: “Having Mohammed join our team is a huge asset as we build up to host the first ever UFC event in the Middle East. As the Arabic analyst on the event, he not only brings a huge amount of knowledge with him but also a tremendous passion and love for Mixed Martial Arts.”

“We are very much looking forward to working with Mohammed on this project and delighted to have him on board,” he added.

Al Housani is also the official jiu-jitsu commentator and analyst for Abu Dhabi Sports TV and commentated on all the matches during the inaugural World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup that took place in Abu Dhabi last year as well as the Asian Cup and the Ramadan Games.

The three events are televised in over 40 countries around the world, said a statement from Flash Entertainment.

The tickets for the big fight have been priced at Dh395 ($107.6) for Upper Grandstand; Dh795 for Middle Grandstand; Dh1,595 for Lower Grandstand; Dh2,795 for Diamond Grandstand and Dh3,695 (for Platinum Grandstand and Platinum Floor).-TradeArabia News Service