Srinagar: Owais Yaqoob’s rise from the small village of Murran in Pulwama to the international mixed martial arts stage is becoming one of the most notable stories in Indian combat sports.
Yaqoob has steadily transformed himself from a young martial-arts enthusiast into a professional MMA fighter competing on an international platform. His journey has not only brought attention to his own career but has also given Jammu and Kashmir a new sporting identity on the global stage.
His achievements have now drawn appreciation from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, adding another significant chapter to a career built through years of training, competition and persistence.
A Historic Step for Kashmir
Yaqoob became the first professional MMA fighter from Jammu and Kashmir to compete in BRAVE Combat Federation, one of the major international promotions in the sport. BRAVE CF itself described his debut as a historic moment for the region.
His BRAVE CF debut came at BRAVE CF 98 in Zhengzhou, China, on September 19, 2025, where he faced Filipino fighter Ian Paul Lora.
The Kashmiri fighter produced an emphatic performance, stopping Lora inside the opening round. The victory immediately established Yaqoob as a fighter to watch beyond India’s domestic MMA circuit.
Key Fight Record
Professional MMA record: 5 wins, 1 loss, 0 draws
Wins by KO/TKO: 3
Wins by decision: 2
Professional defeat: 1
BRAVE CF record before his latest scheduled bout: 2-0
Weight class: Lightweight
Fighting out of: Kashmir, India
Professional debut: March 31, 2023
His only professional defeat came on his debut against Neeraj Panghal at Matrix Fight Night 11, where he lost by guillotine-choke submission in the third round. Since then, Yaqoob has responded with five consecutive professional victories, according to current MMA records.
From Taekwondo to MMA
Yaqoob’s combat-sports story began long before his international MMA breakthrough.
He started training in martial arts in 2013 and built an impressive record in national-level competition, collecting multiple medals before moving deeper into mixed martial arts. He also represented India internationally in Eskrima and won a bronze medal at the 2022 WEKAF World Championships in the Philippines.
Before turning professional, Yaqoob also won three national amateur MMA titles. His development eventually took him outside India, including training connected to the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School in Dagestan.
That path also brought him into the orbit of MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, whose influence has been an important part of Yaqoob’s development. Yaqoob has trained under the guidance associated with Khabib and renowned coach Javier Mendez.
Five Straight Wins Changed the Picture
After losing his professional debut, Yaqoob rebuilt his career impressively.
He defeated Mohammad Azim Mokhlis by unanimous decision at Matrix Fight Night 14 in March 2024. Later that year, he defeated Amanzhol Khaisa by another unanimous decision in Kazakhstan.
The momentum accelerated in 2025.
Yaqoob stopped Shetty Pratik Sadashiv by TKO in the second round before moving onto the BRAVE CF stage. He then defeated Ian Paul Lora inside the first round and followed it with another first-round TKO victory over Mehmet Can Tasdoven at BRAVE CF 103 in December 2025.
Those performances earned him the 2025 BRAVE CF Breakout Fighter of the Year recognition and strengthened his standing as one of the promotion’s emerging lightweight talents.
The Next Challenge: An Undefeated Bulgarian
Yaqoob’s rise has now taken him into another major international challenge.
At BRAVE CF 107 in Burgas, Bulgaria, he was scheduled to face undefeated Bulgarian fighter Delyan Georgiev in a 68kg catchweight contest. Georgiev entered the bout with a perfect 3-0 professional record and a decorated amateur background, including two IMMAF World Championship titles.
The matchup also carried an intriguing coaching connection. Georgiev represents the camp associated with Ilia Topuria, while Yaqoob has trained within the Khabib Nurmagomedov system, making the contest another meeting point between two prominent MMA schools.
More Than One Fighter’s Story
What makes Yaqoob’s journey particularly significant is the geographical background behind it.
Coming from Murran village in Pulwama, he has built an international sporting career in a discipline that still receives far less mainstream attention in India than cricket, football or traditional Olympic sports.
His story therefore extends beyond wins and losses. It represents the possibility of a young athlete from Kashmir entering a global professional arena and competing under the Indian flag.
Yaqoob has also invested in the next generation. Through his Lion’s Den Martial Arts Academy in Pulwama, he has worked with young athletes and helped create a pathway for aspiring martial artists from the region.
Omar Abdullah’s Reaction Adds Another Dimension
The recognition surrounding Yaqoob’s achievements has also reached the political leadership of Jammu and Kashmir, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reacting to the fighter’s breakthrough.
That attention matters because Yaqoob’s career is helping broaden the conversation around sports in the region. His achievements show that athletes from Jammu and Kashmir can emerge in disciplines far beyond the traditional sporting routes and compete against international opposition.
For Indian MMA, the larger significance is equally clear: Yaqoob is helping create visibility for a sport that is still developing its professional ecosystem in the country.
Yaqoob’s professional numbers already tell the story of a fighter who has learned from an early setback and turned it into momentum.
Five straight wins after his debut defeat, three stoppage victories and two international BRAVE CF wins have given him a strong foundation.
The next target will be even bigger stages. Yaqoob has previously expressed ambitions of reaching the UFC, and his continued performances on the international circuit will determine how quickly that dream can move from aspiration to reality.
For now, however, his greatest achievement may be the barrier he has already broken.
From Murran in Pulwama to the international MMA cage, Owais Yaqoob has become a symbol of how far Indian combat sports can travel when talent meets discipline, opportunity and relentless ambition.
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