Kashmir's Owais Yaqoob Creates History, Stuns Unbeaten World Champion at BRAVE CF 107

Srinagar: Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Owais Yaqoob has scripted history for India after defeating unbeaten two-time IMMAF World Champion Delyan Georgiev at BRAVE Combat Federation (BRAVE CF) 107 in Burgas, Bulgaria.

The landmark victory earned widespread praise, with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulating the young fighter for bringing glory to both the Union Territory and the nation.

Yaqoob delivered a commanding performance on August 1, knocking out the Bulgarian star via technical knockout (TKO) in the opening round. The bout ended at the four-minute mark, marking one of the biggest victories of the Kashmiri fighter's professional career.

Georgiev entered the contest as one of the most formidable names in amateur MMA, boasting two International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championship titles and an unbeaten professional record. Yaqoob's emphatic victory handed the Bulgarian his first career defeat.

Congratulating the fighter, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the achievement as a proud moment for Jammu and Kashmir and India.

In a post shared by the Chief Minister's Office on X, Omar Abdullah applauded Yaqoob's remarkable victory over the unbeaten world champion at BRAVE CF 107 and wished him continued success on the international stage.

Hailing from Murran village in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, Owais Yaqoob displayed exceptional composure, technical brilliance and relentless aggression throughout the contest. His dominant performance on one of the world's premier MMA platforms has been hailed as a watershed moment for Indian mixed martial arts.

Speaking after the victory, Yaqoob dedicated the historic 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.

The triumph is being viewed as a landmark achievement for Indian MMA, particularly for Jammu and Kashmir, which has produced several accomplished combat sports athletes over the years. However, Yaqoob's victory over an unbeaten world champion at a leading international MMA promotion marks one of the region's most significant achievements on the global stage.

With this career-defining win, Owais Yaqoob has not only announced himself as one of India's brightest MMA prospects but has also inspired a new generation of young athletes from Kashmir to dream big on the international sporting stage.