Amman — International fighters will begin arriving in Jordan today ahead of their participation in Jordan MMA Week, scheduled to take place from October 27 to 30. The event will feature a selection of prominent fighters from around the world, alongside four Jordanian fighters, in a sporting and entertainment spectacle aimed at highlighting Jordan and strengthening its presence on the global sports map.
اضافة اعلان
Desert Force will oversee the organization of the event, bringing renewed attention to one of the region’s leading mixed martial arts organizers, which staged tournaments over the past several years before competitions were suspended for a period.
The organization of this week-long event marks a new milestone for the sport, with a comprehensive programme combining sporting competitions, fan events and an international presence, while drawing on Jordan’s tourism and historical attractions.
The event has attracted considerable interest, with fighters representing different combat sports backgrounds and 16 countries. Their participation is expected to deliver a variety of matchups and a high level of competition, giving fans an opportunity to watch bouts that bring together international experience and local ambition. Attention will turn to Amman and the Dead Sea, which will host a series of activities accompanying the tournament.
The participating fighters include Russia’s Mohammad Barkhamov; Americans Dante Shiro, Andrew Sanchez and Romero Cotton; Russia’s Mikhail Raguzin; Jordanians Abdullah Jawish, Farih Harahsheh, Zaki Kyalie and Ali Al-Qaisi; Tunisia’s Islam Shalouti; Yemen’s Fares Al-Raimi; Iraq’s Salman Hantous; Brazil’s Ezequias Gleison; Morocco’s Abdelhafid Bendari; Pakistan’s Abbas Khan; Lebanon’s Mohammad Fakhreddine; Britain’s John Martin Fraser; Germany’s Tamirlan Dulatov; Brazil’s Levi Carriel; Russia’s Qurban Zainukov; Brazil’s Gilson Nogueira; Uzbekistan’s Zafar Rashidov; China’s Dawei Zhou and Rui Chen; and Ukraine’s Ratibor Yashchenko.
The participation of the four Jordanian fighters offers an important opportunity to compete against international names with diverse mixed martial arts experience. It could help them develop their technical and competitive abilities, gain further experience and establish their presence on the international tournament circuit, amid growing interest in the sport both locally and globally.
Jordan MMA Week will feature a range of activities combining sport with fan engagement. The tournament’s opening press conference will be held tomorrow at the Odeon Theatre in Amman’s Citadel area, with several participants, representatives of the organizing body and members of the media in attendance.
The following day, the fighters will take part in an open training session along the Dead Sea promenade, giving fans an opportunity to watch part of their preparations and experience the event’s atmosphere. The fighters will then attend the official weigh-in ceremony at the Odeon Theatre ahead of the main fight night.
Attention will turn next Friday to the headline event, DF: Uncaged, which will be held at the historic Roman Theatre in the heart of Amman. The event will bring mixed martial arts together with one of the Kingdom’s most prominent historical landmarks in an experience designed to offer something beyond traditional sporting competitions.
Several global sports legends and celebrities are expected to attend as special guests, led by American boxing legend Mike Tyson and Brazilian football star Ronaldinho, alongside Hasbulla, the globally known social media personality.
The guest list also includes Braulio Estima, a former world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and one of the sport’s prominent figures, as well as Alexandra Windling, a leading sports commentator and reporter covering mixed martial arts bouts.
The presence of these international figures is expected to give the event additional momentum and boost media and public interest, particularly given their widespread popularity and influence among sports and entertainment audiences worldwide.
The event’s significance extends beyond sport, offering an opportunity to use athletics to promote Jordan as a tourist destination. Competitions and activities will take place at prominent historical and tourist sites, including the Roman Theatre and the Citadel in Amman, as well as the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.
This approach gives Jordan an opportunity to showcase its tourist attractions and rich history to a broad international audience through live broadcasts, media coverage and broadcasting networks. It also reinforces the Kingdom’s image as a destination that combines historical heritage with tourism infrastructure and the capacity to host major sporting and entertainment events.
The presence of global stars such as Tyson and Ronaldinho, alongside other prominent sports and media personalities, is also expected to draw greater international attention to Jordan and expand interest in the country as a destination capable of hosting global events that bring together sport, entertainment and tourism in an environment equipped to welcome participants and visitors.
By Mohammad Arabiyat
