Kurdish MMA fighter aiming to extend impressive record

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Kurdistan24) – An up and coming Kurdish Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter is set to compete in his fifth amateur bout on Saturday, April 15 in Newport, Tennessee.

Ahva Abdurrahman, an 18-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee, will go up against opponent Ben Brown in Saturday’s national qualifier final in the Valor Fights featherweight (145 lbs) division.

Speaking to Kurdistan24, the Kurdish MMA fighter said he felt “more experienced” leading up to the weekend encounter.

“My mindset has changed,” Abdurrahman explained. “I’m much more experienced than I was in my first couple of fights.”

The Kurdish teenager who holds an impressive 3-1 record is going into the national qualifier final hoping a victory will help him further his ambitions of going professional.

“Saturday’s just another day. Everything’s starting to come together now,” he told Kurdistan24.

After his recent victory in February, Abdurrahman said he was pleased with the backing from Kurds around the world, particularly from his hometown in Nashville.

“I have noticed the support, and I’m grateful for it,” he previously said.

“There is a new wave of talented Kurdish fighters coming up,” he added. “We’re the next generation.”

Moreover, the Kurdish fighter said he was aiming to take his career to the professional level and compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) one day.

Asked about the prospect of a UFC event in the Kurdistan Region, Abdurrahman said it would be a “dream.”

“Fighting in Kurdistan is a dream of mine,” the teenager stated. “It might be later down the road, but I definitely want to fight there along with other Kurdish fighters.”

“I better main event UFC Kurdistan!” Abdurrahman laughed.