Kashmir’s once-volatile Pulwama gives birth to its first Mixed Martial Arts champion
Owais Yaqoob has become the first mixed martial arts champion from the Pulwama district of Kashmir after a victory at Brave CF 107. His success has been celebrated by local leadership as a source of inspiration for regional youth.
Why it matters
The achievement is culturally significant for a region historically associated with conflict, highlighting a shift toward global sports participation.
Born in Kashmir’s once-volatile Pulwama district, 28-year-old Owais Yaqoob has scripted a new distinction for the district by becoming the first ever mixed martial arts (MMA) champion of the region.
Hailed for his aggressive stance and tough body structure, Yaqoob took centre stage in the world of MMA on Sunday (August 2, 2026) after defeating Bulgarian fighter Georgie at Brave Combat Federation 107.
A resident of Pulwama’s Murran village, Yaqoob’s first professional MMA debut was at Matrix Fight Night 11 in 2023. Since then, he has registered a win against Azim Mokhlis at Matrix Fight Night 14 and also defeated Amanzhol Khaisa in 2024 at Naiza FC 70 in Semey, Kazakhstan, hitting the global headlines.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in