Kashmiri mixed martial arts fighter defeats unbeaten Bulgarian, scripts history
text_fields
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday congratulated mixed martial arts fighter Owais Yaqoob for his victory at BRAVE CF 107 in Bulgaria, where he defeated previously unbeaten Bulgarian fighter Delyan Georgiev.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister's Office described the win as a proud moment for Jammu and Kashmir and the country, and wished Yaqoob continued success on the global stage.
Yaqoob secured the victory on August 1 after defeating Georgiev by technical knockout in the first round at Burgas Arena. The bout ended at the four-minute mark of the opening round.
Georgiev entered the contest unbeaten and was a two-time International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Amateur World Champion. The loss was the first of his career.
Hailing from Murran village in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, Yaqoob delivered a dominant performance, displaying technical superiority throughout the fight.
After the victory, Yaqoob dedicated the win to the people of India and Jammu and Kashmir.
"This victory means everything to me. I stepped into the cage carrying the hopes of my family, my people in Jammu and Kashmir, and the entire country. Defeating an unbeaten world champion is a dream achievement, but this is only the beginning. I will continue to work harder and aim for even greater success while proudly representing India on the global stage," he said.