ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - President Masoud Barzani on Sunday congratulated Kurdish MMA fighter Namo Fazil after his decisive victory in the United States, where he secured a second-round submission win in Los Angeles, praising him as "a source of pride for all Kurds and Kurdistan."
Namo Fazil achieved the victory in the early hours of Sunday during a Mixed Martial Arts bout in Los Angeles, California, where he fought American opponent Jake Babian at the Intuit Dome while carrying the flag of Kurdistan and singing a Kurdish national anthem inside the arena.
“I congratulate the international champion, the young and talented Kurdish fighter, Namo Fazil, on his remarkable and outstanding victory achieved in MMA competitions in the United States," President Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), said in a post on X, saying that Fazil is "a source of pride for all Kurds and Kurdistan."
His victory sparked widespread social media attention and was widely celebrated by Kurds across the globe.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also issued a congratulatory message.
“I extend my warmest congratulations and commendations to the international champion and talented Kurdish youth, Namo Fazil, for the great victory he achieved in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in the United States. I wish him continued success and many more victories.”
In the first round of the fight, the American fighter began the contest aggressively, applying strong pressure with powerful strikes. However, Fazil absorbed the attacks with tactical discipline and endurance, gradually gaining control of the bout.
The turning point came in the second round at 58 seconds, when Fazil executed a technical “Anaconda Choke,” trapping his opponent’s neck in a submission hold. Babian was forced to tap out, signaling surrender before sustaining injury.
With this victory, Namo Fazil improved his professional record to 10 wins and 1 loss. The fight was broadcast live on Netflix and is expected to boost his standing among top international MMA contenders and potential Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) prospects.