FLW Iago Ribeiro 13-3 BRA vs Muhidin Abubaker 10-1 SOM in ENG
Fight fans were crestfallen at the news that UAE Warriors Flyweight Champion, Iago Ribeiro would not be able to defend that belt he won so sensationally in a viral come-from-behind win well over a year ago against Yamato Fujita.
Instead the promotion gave two top contenders the opportunity to compete for the interim title with the winner to face Ribeiro in a unification bout. At UAE Warriors 60 in June 2025, Somalia’s Muhidin Abubaker went into his fight with Brazilian veteran, Victor Nunes, as a massive underdog but pulled-off a remarkable split decision victory to shock the world.
Now on a seven-fight winning streak with two belts in two promotions, this London-based karateka whose grappling has been sensational of late, will finally step into the Octagon against the Team Astra Pitbull.
With just one loss in the past 8 years, Ribeiro’s Warriors debut gave a taste of things to come when he beat the highly-rated American Juan Puerta at the Etihad in an absolute war to rocket up the 125lb rankings and book his appointment with Fujita and the belt.
After the title win and a subsequent sabbatical from competition he now defends his belt for the first time against the interim champion. With a win during Abu Dhabi Showdown Week being the best window display possible for the purchasing power of the visiting contingent from Las Vegas, this fight is for more than the unified belt, but about fulfilling a destiny that both athletes have claimed is theirs.
