Kurdish Fighters Dominate in PFL, MEFC Tournaments

[Anthea]

Kurdish Fighters Dominate Tournaments

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — Kurdish athletes delivered major victories in international MMA competitions this month, as reported by the Kurdistan Chronicle. Mohamed Zarey, known as the "Kurdish Gorilla," triumphed in the PFL Middle East and North Africa (MENA) 2 quarter-finals on July 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 31-year-old fighter, born in Sanandaj in northwestern Iran (also known as Eastern Kurdistan) and based in Norway, defeated Egypt’s Ayman Galal by unanimous decision in the welterweight division

According to PFL MENA, the victory marks Zarey's fifth consecutive win and improves his record to 10-1. He is now ranked as the #3 Pro Men’s Welterweight in the Nordic region of Europe. After the match, Zarey declared, "BFL, who is next for Kurdish power," echoing the words of Kurdish boxer Agit Kabayel, who recently won the WBC Interim World Heavyweight Title.

Zarey will next face the winner of the upcoming semifinal bout between Omar Hussein and Mohamed al-Aqraa. Speaking to Kurdistan Chronicle, Zarey said, “I fight in one of the biggest organizations in the world – the PFL. Right now, Kurdish athletes are taking over the sport, and we’ve worked hard to make that happen. My last fight was on July 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and my next fight is scheduled for September 27."

Meanwhile, another Kurdish fighter, 25-year-old Seyamand Rida, secured his second professional MMA victory in the MEFC 6 Middleweight Championship on July 3 at Baynounah Club in Al Dhannah City, UAE. Ranked #530 among pro men’s lightweights in Europe, Rida, who was born in Norway and has roots in Kalar in the Kurdistan Region, defeated Turkish opponent Kemal Salih via technical knockout in under two minutes of the first round.

“My last match at MEFC was a professional bout – my second one – and I’m now 2-0,” Rida told Kurdistan Chronicle. “My opponent was a Turkish fighter who had been talking a lot of trash before the match. I didn’t say much in response – I just told him, ‘I’ll show you in the ring.’"

Rida began training in jiu-jitsu at the age of 16. "I had a lot of energy growing up and used to get into fights, so martial arts gave me the discipline and focus I needed. I began competing in grappling and had over 150 matches, winning many championships. In 2021, I made the switch to MMA and had my first official fight."

Looking to the future, he added, "I plan to fight again in September and will stay active, aiming to reach a major organization in a short time. I’m 100% committed to bringing the Kurdish flag to the biggest stage and letting the whole world know who we are."

Reflecting on the growing presence of Kurds in combat sports, Rida said, “We Kurds have lived through war our whole lives, and as mountain people, fighting is in our blood. We are natural fighters, we just need the opportunity. And believe me, more is coming."

Kurdish fighters like Zarey and Rida are continuing to gain recognition on the global stage, with their determination and performance placing Kurdish athleticism in the international spotlight.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/85 ... -chronicle