Srinagar, August 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday felicitated Jammu and Kashmir mixed martial arts fighter Owais Yaqoob and announced a cash award of ₹1 lakh in recognition of his achievements on the international stage.

The Chief Minister praised Yaqoob for bringing recognition to Jammu and Kashmir and India through his performances, saying his success could encourage more young athletes in the region to pursue sporting excellence.

Yaqoob, born in 1998 in Murran village of Pulwama, is regarded as the first professional MMA fighter from Kashmir.

He began his sporting career with taekwondo and kickboxing around 2012-13 and went on to win 11 national gold medals, six silver medals and 17 state-level titles. He also represented India in Eskrima and secured a bronze medal at the 2022 WEKAF World Championship in the Philippines.

Inspired by UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, Yaqoob switched to mixed martial arts and turned professional in 2023. He currently trains at the American Kickboxing Academy under Khabib Nurmagomedov and Javier Mendez.

Yaqoob made his professional debut at Matrix Fight Night 11 in 2023 and has since compiled a record of six wins and one defeat, with victories recorded in India, Kazakhstan and China.

He became the first fighter from Jammu and Kashmir to compete and win under the BRAVE Combat Federation. On August 2, 2026, he defeated Bulgarian fighter Delyan Georgiev at BRAVE CF 107 via a first-round stoppage.

Apart from his competitive career, Yaqoob founded the Lion's Den Martial Arts Academy in Pulwama in 2015. The academy has trained more than 200 young athletes.