Kurdish MMA fighter in US makes history, becomes first two-division champ

MEMPHIS (Kurdistan 24) – An amateur Kurdish mixed martial artist made history on Saturday when he became a two-division champion in an MMA bout at V3 Fights 73 in Memphis, United States.

Ahva Abdurrahman, 20, defeated his opponent Jacob Sandlin via a split decision to confirm his status as undisputed champ-champ, becoming the first Kurdish fighter in V3 Fights promotions history to hold two belts.

Abdurrahman, who beat Cameron Hall to win the featherweight (145lbs) belt in January, now holds the bantamweight (135lbs) title as well.

Related Article: After recent win, Kurdish MMA fighter sets eyes on champ-champ status

The bout was fought at 140lbs after both fighters agreed on a catchweight fight for the 135lbs and the 145lbs belts—catchweight means meeting in the middle of two weight classes.

“It feels great!” Abdurrahman told Kurdistan 24 after his fight. The win “gives me motivation to work even harder and smarter.”

Abdurrahman, who now holds an amateur record of six wins and two losses, says he has plans on turning professional in the future, but his focus is to gain as much experience and learn as much as he can as an amateur fighter.

“I want to establish myself as the best amateur in the US or the world and replicate that as a professional fighter,” he said.

The 20-year-old expects to begin his professional career in 2020. 

Since making his debut at 18, Abdurrahman says he has grown a lot and that his evolution as a fighter will continue.

“Martial arts and the fight game have forced me to grow in multiple ways,” he previously told Kurdistan 24. “This game has put me in a different zone mentally, and I won’t stop until my mission is complete.”

According to the Kurdish athlete, there is no room for complacency in MMA, “you have to respect it and put all of your energy into it.”

“In this game, you don’t get rewarded for putting 99 percent into it. You pay for the one percent you didn’t put in.”