UAE WARRIORS CARD SET TO MAKE HISTORY IN LEBANON
Jounieh, Lebanon – On the 11th of December, the biggest Mixed Martial Arts event in the history of Lebanese sport is set to change the landscape of Arabian MMA forever. Since its last international event in Brazil, UAE Warriors ventures from its Abu Dhabi hotbed of combat sports, to cap-off the 2025 IMMAF Asian Championships in the spectacular ancient Phoenician seaside resort of Jounieh on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean.
Fittingly it was their outstanding successes in the amateur ranks that kickstarted the pro careers of twenty of the most sparkling talents in the region competing across the card, including several hometown heroes. The main event features local legend and wily PFL vet Georges Eid (10-6) facing the dynamite kickboxing power of Morocco’s dangerous Mohamed El Jaghdal (10-10). Always willing to trade, Lebanon’s Desert Force standout Eid has plenty of first-round knockouts, and with his dream come true of fighting in his homeland for the first time in over four years you can expect ‘The Lebanese Bulldozer’ to put on a show of note. However, El Jaghdal loves to pressure his opponent onto the back foot from the very first bell but also has tapped several opponents in the first round to remain a massive threat wherever the fight goes. Passing through the Octagon door with a kill-or-be-killed attitude with only two out of ten wins going the distance, together he and Eid create an electrifying headliner.
A fascinating co-main event between two local rising stars will see undefeated social media sensation Shadi Kabbani 3-0 deploy his pinpoint kickboxing against fellow Muay Thai specialist Ali Tabaja 2-1 in a clash between two of the country’s respected rival gyms, Tristar Lebanon and Tiger Muay Thai Beirut. With the Georges St Pierre comparisons, Kabbani is already coming-off a superb win at UAE Warriors but the hugely-talented Tabaja is a lethal dark horse having made his pro debut to much fanfare just four months ago.
Many IMMAF fans will be keenly watching last year’s European Champion from Egypt, Flobater Fares 2-0 continue his spotless Warriors career, when he takes on the fast and powerful Turkish all-rounder Talha Derdiyok 4-1. After a sublimely successful pro debut in Abu Dhabi in June, SBG’s Fares took a first-round TKO in Al Ain three months ago to show the world he’s ready for primetime. He’ll need all of his mercurial footwork against Derdiyok who has a haymaking right hand and dynamic submission offence.
Two former PFL fighters will meet in the middle with Lebanese grappling powerhouse Anthony Zeidan (5-2) battling Egyptian roadblock Ahmed Darwish 4-1. Zeidan famously took Omar El Dafrawy the distance and has knockout power in both fists but Darwish’s only loss was a dropped decision against Baddredine Diani and he’s coming-off a cracking first-round rear-naked win just two months ago.
Kicking-off the main card is local lad and Desert Force junior product Abed Amir Hamoud 1-1 taking on Baghdad’s powerful karateka Karar Rahim Ali 4-2 in an intriguing clash of styles. With five compelling prelim bouts, UAE Warriors 66 is jam-packed with the promotion’s trademark non-stop action which will go down in the history books as one of the most seismic evenings in the proud and lengthy annals of Lebanese and Arabian sport.
The entire UAE Warriors 66 Card is*:
Bantamweight Abed Masharki 2-3 vs Magdy Tariq 3-0
Lightweight Ali Zreik 2-1 vs Fathy Mahmoud 1-0
Flyweight Ilknur Kurt 1-2 vs Yeganeh Bulaghi 1-0
Catchweight 59kgs Imad Hamdo 0-0 vs Imad El Azami 0-0
Catchweight 79kgs Elie Farah 3-4 vs Erfan Madadi 1-1
Heavyweight Abed Amir Hamoud 1-1 vs Karar Rahim Ali 4-2
Catchweight 74kgs Anthony Zeidan 5-2 vs Ahmed Darwish 4-1
Catchweight 58kgs Flobater Fares 2-0 vs Talha Derdiyok 4-1
Featherweight Shadi Kabbani 3-0 vs Ali Tabaja 2-1
Catchweight 74kgs Georges Eid 10-6 vs Mohamed El Jaghdal 10-10
*Bouts subject to change.
UAE Warriors takes place at the Fouad Chehab Stadium in Jounieh, Lebanon on Thursday December 11th at 6pm.
Tickets available at – https://www.ticketingboxoffice.com/uae-warriors-66-lebanon-tickets/event/22870/en
Further information available at www.uaewarriors.com
