Yaqoob receives grand welcome in Pulwama after BRAVE CF 107 victory in Balgaria

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Aug 4: Jammu and Kashmir mixed martial arts fighter Owais Yaqoob received a grand welcome in his hometown of Pulwama today after defeating Bulgarian fighter Delyan Georgiev at BRAVE CF 107 in Burgas, Bulgaria, in what has been described as the biggest victory of his career.

A jubilant atmosphere was witnessed as family members, supporters, sports enthusiasts and local residents gathered to welcome the fighter following his international triumph. His victory has drawn widespread appreciation from sports lovers across the country.

Speaking to reporters after returning home, Yaqoob dedicated his victory to the support he received from people across India and said the response from fans was his "biggest achievement." "The whole of India celebrated with me. Everyone supported me. Around 1.6 million people were watching the fight live from India. The biggest achievement for me is that people are supporting me and loving me," he said.

Yaqoob said his focus now remains on future competitions rather than celebrating the win. "Our focus has not gone anywhere. We are still hungry and we have to do more. Our goal is always to stay focused and keep upgrading every day," he said, adding that he would resume training immediately for his next grappling contest in Istanbul later this month, where he expects to compete alongside UFC fighters.

The fighter also revealed the difficulties he faced before the bout, saying he travelled despite suffering injuries and illness. "My leg was injured, then my shoulder was injured. During fight week I had a fever and a cold. I took medicines and recovered in two days," he said.

He said he also underwent a demanding weight cut from 75 kilograms to 68 kilograms in a day and sustained a cut on his hand while getting it wrapped shortly before entering the cage. "So much bad happened to me. I told myself no one can stop me. When I went into the cage, I became completely calm," he said.

Yaqoob said his strategy was to pressure Georgiev, whose plan had been to maintain distance. "People said he was a grappler, but I showed them I can also strike. We got a knockdown and finished with ground and pound. I showed that we are a complete fighter and can fight at any level," he said.