Pulwama’s star MMA player, Owais Yaqoob becomes first fighter from Kashmir to win MFN contract

Pulwama, Oct 03: Pulwama’s star Mixed Martial Arts player, OwaisYaqoob, has become first fighter from Kashmir to win a contract from Matrix Fight Night (MFN), India’s biggest mixed martial arts platform founded by film producer and former actress Ayesha Shroff.
Owais, a resident of Murran village of Pulwama district, is one among the 13 fighters from across the country who have been signed by the MFN.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Owais said that around 500 fighters from across the country participated in 3 day AIMMA (All India Mixed Martial Arts Association) Nationals and MFN contender series in Hyderabad for winning the contract.
“I am one among the thirteen lucky players who have won the contract,” Owais said, adding that this is a big achievement for him.
He added that he is the first MMA player from Kashmir to have won the MFN contract.
“MFN is a professional platform where fighters are trained for international competitions,” he said, adding players get a pay for every fight which goes up with the popularity of the player.
In the AIMMAA Nationals 2022 and MFN contenders fight Owais won four continuous fights, two fights by submission (choke) and two by technical knockouts.
“My performance was appreciated and all the MFN members were impressed,” he said.
He added that the mega event was organized by IftikarHussain, the AIMMAA member from Hyderabad under Alan Fenandes who heads the Matrix Fight Night events which has become the new home for Indian mixed martial arts fighters both professional and amateur.
Matrix Fight Night is a passion project of Bollywood superstar Tiger Shroff and his mother, Ayesha Shroff.
MFN has become India’s biggest Mixed-Martial Arts event. It has held 9 successful editions till date.
In July of this year Owais won a bronze medal in the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation championship in the Philippines.
This senior martial art player Pulwama has won 11 gold medals, 7 silvers in nationals and 17 gold medals in state events. He runs an academy, Lions Den, for training youth in MMA.