Peregraf- Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani received Kurdish mixed martial artist Namo Fazil in Erbil on Thursday following the fighter's submission victory at the MVP MMA 1 event in Los Angeles earlier this month.
During the meeting, Barzani praised Fazil's performance and international profile, telling the fighter: "You made us all proud and we will continue supporting and rooting for you."
Fazil defeated American MMA fighter Jake Babian by second-round anaconda choke submission at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on May 17. The bout took place on the preliminary card of the "Rousey vs. Carano" event — promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and streamed globally on Netflix — with the finish coming 58 seconds into the second round.
The victory improved Fazil's professional MMA record to 10 wins and one loss, with the win marking his seventh career stoppage.
Known primarily for his striking and Muay Thai background, Fazil drew attention for his grappling in this bout, securing effective ground control before locking in the submission. After a contested opening round that featured heavy exchanges, takedown attempts, and submission threats from Babian, Fazil applied sustained striking pressure early in the second round, forcing his opponent backward. When Babian attempted a takedown in response, Fazil sprawled and transitioned into a tight anaconda choke, prompting an immediate tap-out.
Babian entered the contest on a five-fight winning streak, with all five victories coming by knockout. The Hawaii-born welterweight started aggressively, landing spinning attacks, knees, and high kicks while threatening Fazil in dominant grappling positions during the opening round.
Fazil began training in martial arts at the age of 15 in the Kurdistan Region and has competed across regional MMA and striking circuits. Before transitioning to MMA, he won multiple Muay Thai and kickboxing titles and also competed in Karate Combat, where he defeated Guilherme Bastos in December 2025.