Amman has launched a week of mixed martial arts events ahead of the DF UNCAGED Fight Night, with international fighters and prominent figures from combat sports attending the programme.
Among those present are renowned coach Javier Mendez, founder of the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), and former Brazil football star Ronaldinho.
The event was announced at a news conference attended by athletes, coaches, international guests and media representatives. The fighters scheduled to compete on 30 October at Amman’s Roman Theatre were also introduced.
Zaid Mirza, chief executive of Jordan Combat Consulting and founder of Desert Force, said hosting the tournament was an important step in strengthening Jordan’s position on the global mixed martial arts map.
He said staging the bouts at historic landmarks gave the event a distinctive character while highlighting Jordan’s tourism and cultural attractions.
Mirza added that the tournament would give Jordanian fighters the chance to compete against leading international opponents and gain valuable experience. It would also allow local fans to watch international-level contests in Jordan.
Abdulrahman Al-Husami, founder and chief executive of event organiser Makana 360, said media coverage and digital platforms were central to expanding the tournament’s reach and engaging new audiences around the world.
He said major sporting events had become an effective way to promote tourism and cultural destinations, particularly through content shared by athletes and high-profile guests with their followers.
Mendez praised the organisation of the event and the attention being given to the participating fighters. He described the support provided to the athletes as among the best experiences he had encountered during his career in mixed martial arts.
The international fighters presented at the news conference were Mohammed Berkhamov, Dante Schiro, Andrew Sanchez and Mikhail Raguzin. They will compete at the Roman Theatre in an event intended to combine sport with the character of the historic venue.
The fighters said they were pleased to be taking part in the tournament in the Jordanian capital. They added that competing at one of Amman’s most prominent historic sites made the experience particularly distinctive and offered them an opportunity to learn more about Jordanian culture and history.
Jordan will be represented by Farih Al-Harashah, Abdullah Jaweesh, Zaki Kayali and Yazan Balawi. The local fighters said they were proud to represent their country and that competing in front of a home crowd would provide extra motivation to perform at their best and demonstrate the development of mixed martial arts in Jordan.
The programme continues with open training sessions at the Dead Sea Corniche on 28 October, followed by the official weigh-in at Amman’s Jabal Al-Qalaa on 29 October. The week will conclude with the DF UNCAGED Fight Night bouts at the Roman Theatre on 30 October.
The event is organised by Makana 360 and Jordan Combat Consulting under the supervision of the Jordanian Mixed Martial Arts Federation, with support from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Jordan Tourism Board and a number of public- and private-sector institutions and partners.
The tournament is part of efforts to develop sports tourism in Jordan and attract international events that promote the kingdom as a destination combining sport, tourism and culture.
