Four Kurdish mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes competed in a professional world championship tournament in Oman on January 30, with two fighters returning home as world champions.
The Kurdistan team included Zaman Ismail from Sulaymaniyah, Saad Kawa from Erbil, Halwest Muzaffer from Khalifan, and Ahmad Khalil from Kirkuk.
Zaman Ismail, 26, faced Chechen fighter Bekhan Muchalanov, coached by world champion Mamzachinaev, in one of the tournament’s strongest bouts and secured a world title. Saad Kawa, also 26, defeated Jordanian competitor Awadallah to claim the second world championship. Halwest Muzaffer and Ahmad Khalil performed strongly but did not advance to the final rounds.
Farhang Ibrahim, an experienced MMA coach, praised the achievement: “We are proud to win two world titles. Kurdish athletes are no less than other world champions and deserve more support to continue advancing.”
Adding to Kurdish sporting milestones, world champion Namo Fazil is set to compete in the AFC World Cup, marking the first time a Kurdish athlete will participate in the tournament.
This tournament highlights the growing presence of Kurdish athletes on the international sports stage and underscores their potential in martial arts and global competitions.
