The Kurdistan Region showcased the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in its capital of Erbil on Thursday with a five-fight card lineup at Erbil International Hotel. Black Mamba MMA & Crossfit in Erbil organized the event. Rudaw Media Network was an official media partner.
The fighters came from Iraq and Lebanon. Ahmed Saeb hailing from Erbil represented the Kurdistan Region and scored a technical knockout victory win in his bout. Black Mamba owner Mohamed Qays coached Saeb. Wrestling and Taekwondo have been popular among Kurds. MMA combines the standing and ground-based martial arts with wins coming by knockout, technical knockout, submission, or by judge's decision.
Thair and Hussein exchange blows in the third and final round of their middleweight fight.
Thair after his victory by technical knockout in the third round.
Hussein "Buffalo" Salem, of Iraq, celebrates with the crowd after his quick first round victory in the featherweight fight by technical knockout. After kneeing fellow Iraqi Abdul Rahman Majid, he delivered a few decisive blows to him and the referee called the fight. The quick turn of events lasted just seconds, eliciting a strong reaction from the crowd.
Erbil native Ahmed Saeb warms up before his welterweight fight.
Saeb grapples with his opponent on the fence.
Black Mamba MMA & Crossfit owner and coach Mohamed Qays puts Saeb on his shoulders after the hometown fighter's victory by technical knockout. Saeb trains at Black Mamba in Erbil.
Yusuf Ghariri, of Lebanon, walks into the room for a lightweight fight against Iraq's Hussein Fakher.
Fakher got ahead in the first round after delivering several hits to a bloodied Ghariri on the ground, but Ghariri came back to win in round two by technical knockout.
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