Pulwama’s Owais Yaqoob becomes region’s first MMA champion after Brave CF 107 win

Owais Yaqoob, 28, a native of Pulwama’s Murran village in Kashmir’s once-volatile Pulwama district, defeated Bulgarian fighter Georgie at Brave Combat Federation 107 in Bulgaria on Sunday, August 2, 2026, becoming the first ever mixed martial arts champion from the region.

Born and raised in Pulwama, Yaqoob is noted in the report for an aggressive stance and a tough body structure; his first professional MMA appearance came at Matrix Fight Night 11 in 2023. He later recorded a victory over Azim Mokhlis at Matrix Fight Night 14 and defeated Amanzhol Khaisa in 2024 at Naiza FC 70 in Semey, Kazakhstan, results that brought him international attention.

The account of Brave CF 107 said Yaqoob’s performance “put on display power and skills.” The contest against the Bulgarian ended four minutes into the opening round, with the Kashmir fighter dominant through a clinical striking display.

The report added that “It’s a rare record for Yaqoob to defeat an unbeaten two-time IMMAF World Champion.” After the Brave CF 107 victory, Yaqoob’s professional MMA record stood at 6-1 and the win marked his third successive victory under the BRAVE Combat Federation banner.

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated Yaqoob for “his remarkable victory at BRAVE CF 107 in Bulgaria”. Mr. Abdullah wished him continued success and many more laurels on the global stage.

The report also noted that Mr. Abdullah said Yaqoob’s success would inspire countless young sportspersons across Jammu & Kashmir to pursue excellence and believe in their potential, and that scores of netizens took to social media to congratulate Yaqoob for his feat.

The article was published on August 04, 2026 07:23 am IST and updated on August 08, 2026 09:26 pm IST from Srinagar.