ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday hosted Kurdish mixed martial arts champion Namo Fazil to celebrate his recent international success and pledge continued support for athletes in the Region.
"During the meeting, President Nechirvan Barzani extended his warm congratulations and commendations to Namo Fazil for this outstanding international achievement, and reaffirmed his support for the youth and athletes of Kurdistan," according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency. He also wished the MMA fighter continued success in his career.
Fazil, widely known as the "Grandson of Saladin," recently secured a second-round submission victory over his American opponent, Jake Babineau.
The welterweight bout took place in mid-May at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles during a globally streamed Netflix MMA event. The win improved Fazil's professional record to 10-1 and further cemented his status as a rising international combat sports prospect and a prominent representative of Kurdish identity on the world stage.
Fazil expressed his gratitude for the reception, thanking President Barzani for his ongoing encouragement of athletes across the Kurdistan Region, the statement said.