Owais Yaqoob wins BRAVE CF 107 in Bulgaria, J&K CM Omar Abdullah congratulates
Synopsis
A fighter from Pulwama just ended the unbeaten run of a two-time IMMAF world champion — with a first-round TKO on Bulgarian soil. Owais Yaqoob's BRAVE CF 107 win is being called the biggest international MMA milestone ever achieved by an athlete from Jammu & Kashmir, and J&K CM Omar Abdullah was quick to mark the moment.
Key Takeaways
Owais Yaqoob defeated Delyan Georgiev via first-round TKO at BRAVE CF 107 at Burgas Arena, Bulgaria on 1 August 2025 .
Georgiev was a two-time IMMAF Amateur World Champion and entered the bout unbeaten; the loss was the first of his career.
Yaqoob stopped Georgiev at the 4-minute mark of round one.
Yaqoob hails from Murran village, Pulwama district , South Kashmir.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the win 'a proud moment for Jammu & Kashmir and the nation.' The achievement is reportedly the biggest international MMA milestone by a Kashmiri athlete.
Kashmiri mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Owais Yaqoob delivered a landmark international victory on 1 August 2025, defeating previously unbeaten Bulgarian fighter Delyan Georgiev via first-round technical knockout (TKO) at BRAVE Combat Federation (BRAVE CF) 107, held at Burgas Arena in Bulgaria. The win drew widespread recognition, including a personal congratulatory message from Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
How the Fight Unfolded
Yaqoob stopped Georgiev at the 4-minute mark of the opening round, producing what observers called a dominant and technically superior performance. Georgiev had entered the bout with an unblemished record and two International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Amateur World Championship titles to his name — making the defeat the first loss of his professional career.
Yaqoob, hailing from Murran village in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, displayed composure and precision throughout the short but decisive contest, outclassing the Bulgarian on one of MMA's leading global platforms.
What Owais Yaqoob Said
Speaking after the bout, Yaqoob dedicated the win to the people of India and Jammu & Kashmir. 'This victory means everything to me. I stepped into the cage carrying the hopes of my family, my people in Jammu and Kashmir, and the entire country. Defeating an unbeaten world champion is a dream achievement, but this is only the beginning. I will continue to work harder and aim for even greater success while proudly representing India on the global stage,' he said.
J&K CM Omar Abdullah's Response
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's office posted on X that Abdullah had congratulated Yaqoob on his 'remarkable victory,' describing the achievement as 'a proud moment for Jammu & Kashmir and the nation.' The Chief Minister also wished Yaqoob continued success and 'many more laurels on the global stage.'
Why This Win Matters
The victory is widely regarded as a historic milestone for Kashmiri combat sports. While several Kashmiri wrestlers have made their mark nationally in the past, Yaqoob's triumph at an elite international MMA event against a double IMMAF world champion is, according to reports, an unprecedented achievement for an athlete from the region.
The win also places Yaqoob among a small but growing cohort of Indian MMA fighters gaining recognition on global professional circuits. With this performance, attention will now turn to what comes next for the Pulwama-born fighter on the BRAVE CF stage.
Point of View
On a major international platform, deserves more than a congratulatory post. Indian MMA lacks the institutional support structure that wrestling or boxing receives, and Yaqoob's rise has been largely self-propelled. The question now is whether this breakthrough prompts serious investment in grassroots MMA development in J&K — or remains a celebrated one-off.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Owais Yaqoob and where is he from?
Owais Yaqoob is a professional MMA fighter from Murran village in Pulwama district, South Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir. He competes on the BRAVE Combat Federation circuit and has now earned recognition as one of India's most prominent MMA athletes on the international stage.
What happened at BRAVE CF 107 in Bulgaria?
At BRAVE CF 107, held at Burgas Arena in Bulgaria on 1 August 2025, Owais Yaqoob defeated Bulgarian fighter Delyan Georgiev via technical knockout (TKO) at the 4-minute mark of the first round. Georgiev was a two-time IMMAF Amateur World Champion and had been unbeaten entering the contest.
Why is Owais Yaqoob's BRAVE CF 107 win considered historic?
The win is considered historic because Georgiev was unbeaten and held two IMMAF Amateur World Championship titles, making him one of the most credentialed amateur MMA fighters in the world. According to reports, no Kashmiri athlete had previously achieved a comparable milestone on an international MMA platform.
What did J&K CM Omar Abdullah say about Owais Yaqoob's victory?
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated Yaqoob through his official office's post on X, calling the win 'a proud moment for Jammu & Kashmir and the nation' and wishing the fighter continued success on the global stage.
What did Owais Yaqoob say after winning at BRAVE CF 107?
Yaqoob dedicated the victory to the people of India and Jammu & Kashmir, saying he had entered the cage 'carrying the hopes of my family, my people in Jammu and Kashmir, and the entire country.' He described defeating an unbeaten world champion as a 'dream achievement' and pledged to continue representing India internationally.
