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{{Short description|Indian mixed martial artist (born 1998)}}
{{Infobox martial artist
| name = Owais Yaqoob
| image =HJPG1298.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1998}}
| birth_place = Murran, [[Pulwama district]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], India
| nationality = Indian
| height = {{convert|5|ft|7|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|155|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| weight_class = [[Lightweight (MMA)|Lightweight]]
| reach = {{convert|69.7|in|cm|abbr=on}}
| stance =
| fighting_out_of = Kashmir, India
| team = [[American Kickboxing Academy]]<br>Team Khabib
| trainer = [[Khabib Nurmagomedov]]<br>[[Javier Mendez (mixed martial arts trainer)|Javier Mendez]]
| years_active = 2023–present
| mma_kowin = 2
| mma_subwin = 0
| mma_decwin = 2
| mma_koloss = 0
| mma_subloss = 1
| mma_decloss = 0
| mma_draw = 0
| mma_nc = 0
| sherdog = 421999
| updated = 14 November 2025
}}
'''Owais Yaqoob''' (born 1998) is an Indian [[mixed martial artist|professional mixed martial artist]] who competes in the [[lightweight (MMA)|lightweight]] division. He is the first professional MMA fighter from [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and trains at the [[American Kickboxing Academy]] (AKA) under [[Khabib Nurmagomedov]] and Javier Mendez.<ref name="sherdog">{{cite web |url=https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Owais-Yaqoob-421999 |title=Owais Yaqoob MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography |publisher=Sherdog |access-date=14 November 2025}}</ref> In October 2025, Nurmagomedov publicly praised Yaqoob's progress during training.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Khabib-Nurmagomedov-Praises-Indian-MMA-Fighter-198798 |title=Khabib Nurmagomedov Praises Indian MMA Fighter |publisher=Sherdog |date=22 October 2025 |access-date=14 November 2025}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Owais Yaqoob was born in 1998 in Murran village, [[Pulwama district]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], India. He began training in martial arts in 2013, starting with [[taekwondo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bravecf.com/news/brave-cf-98-serves-as-historic-stage-for-kashmir-s-owais-yaqoob |title=BRAVE CF 98 Serves As Historic Stage For Kashmir's Owais Yaqoob |publisher=BRAVE CF |date=10 September 2025 |access-date=14 November 2025}}</ref><ref name="The Free Press Journal-2025">{{cite web |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/who-is-owais-yaqoob-mma-star-from-kashmir-knocks-out-opponent-in-first-round-in-brave-cf |title=Who Is Owais Yaqoob? MMA Star From Jammu & Kashmir Makes History With First-Round Knockout At BRAVE CF |publisher=The Free Press Journal |date=20 September 2025 |access-date=14 November 2025}}</ref> Over the following decade, Yaqoob competed in national taekwondo competitions, winning 11 gold medals and six silver medals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.awazthevoice.in/sports-news/kashmiri-mma-fighter-owais-yaqoob-wins-international-championship-41762.html |title=Kashmiri MMA fighter Owais Yaqoob wins international championship |publisher=Awaz The Voice |date=21 September 2025 |access-date=14 November 2025}}</ref>
== Professional career ==
Prior to turning professional, Yaqoob won three national amateur MMA titles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mmaindia.com/matrix-fight-night-11-owais-yaqoob-predicts-a-finish/ |title=Matrix Fight Night 11: Owais Yaqoob predicts a finish |publisher=MMA India |date=31 March 2023 |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/jks-first-mma-fighter-to-enter-ufc-to-receiving-training-at-nurmegomadov-school-russia/ |title=J&K's first MMA fighter to enter UFC; to receive training at Nurmegomadov School, Russia |publisher=The Kashmir Monitor |date=19 June 2023 |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref> To prepare for his professional debut, he trained in grappling and wrestling in Chandigarh under coach Gurkaran Singh, striking and footwork at Sumo Fight Club in Bali, Indonesia, and spent two months at the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School in Dagestan, Russia, under Islam Makhachev.<ref name="mma-india">{{cite web |url=https://www.mmaindia.com/matrix-fight-night-11-owais-yaqoob-predicts-a-finish/ |title=Matrix Fight Night 11: Owais Yaqoob predicts a finish |publisher=MMA India |date=31 March 2023 |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/makhachev-khabib-nurmagomedov-to-train-pulwama-boy-in-mma/ |title=Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov to train Pulwama boy in MMA |publisher=The Kashmir Monitor |date=28 July 2023 |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref>

Yaqoob made his professional MMA debut on 31 March 2023 at [[Matrix Fight Night]] 11 in New Delhi, where he lost to Neeraj Panghal via third-round submission (guillotine choke).<ref name="sherdog" /><ref name="tales">{{cite web |last=Sheikh |first=Muneer |title=Owais Yaqoob: Kashmir's Warrior in the World of MMA |website=Tales of Kashmir |date=27 September 2025 |url=https://www.talesofkashmir.com/2025/09/owais-yaqoob-kashmirs-warrior-in-world.html?m=1 |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref>

He secured his first professional win on 9 March 2024 against Azim Mokhlis at Matrix Fight Night 14 by unanimous decision.<ref name="sherdog"/> On 21 December 2024, Yaqoob defeated Amanzhol Khaisa via unanimous decision at [[Naiza FC]] 70 in Semey, Kazakhstan.<ref name="sherdog"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Indian MMA Fighter Owais Yaqoob Triumphs at NAIZA 70 |website=lockerroom.in |date=30 December 2024 |url=https://lockerroom.in/blog/view/indian-mma-fighter-owais-yaqoob-triumphs-naiza-70 |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pulwama's Owais Yaqoob Wins MMA Fight In Kazakhstan |website=Kashmir Observer |date=27 December 2024 |url=https://kashmirobserver.net/2024/12/27/pulwamas-owais-yaqoob-wins-mma-fight-in-kazakhstan/ |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref>

Yaqoob earned back-to-back knockout victories in 2025. On 19 April 2025, he stopped Shetty Pratik Sadashiv via second-round TKO (punches) at Veswa Fight Championship 4 in Panchkula, Haryana.<ref name="sherdog"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/1004868-veswa-fighting-championship-4-owais-yaqoob-vs-shetty-pratik-sadashiv |title=Owais Yaqoob vs. Shetty Pratik Sadashiv, Veswa Fighting Championship 4 |publisher=Tapology |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref> His most recent fight, on 19 September 2025, saw him make his debut for [[Brave Combat Federation]] at BRAVE CF 98 in Zhengzhou, China, where he defeated Ian Paul Lora via first-round TKO (punches).<ref name="sherdog"/> This victory marked the first win for a fighter from Jammu and Kashmir in BRAVE CF.<ref name="The Free Press Journal-2025"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Kashmiri MMA fighter Owais Yaqoob wins international bout in China |website=Greater Kashmir |date=20 September 2025 |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/sports/kashmiri-mma-fighter-owais-yaqoob-wins-international-bout-in-china/ |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref>

In October 2023, Yaqoob was signed as a brand ambassador for Cemtac Cements, a Kashmir-based company.<ref name="greaterkashmir">{{cite news |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/sports/cemtac-cements-signs-kashmiri-mma-fighter-owais-yaqoob-as-brand-ambassador/ |title=Cemtac Cements signs Kashmiri MMA fighter Owais Yaqoob as brand ambassador |publisher=Greater Kashmir |date=2023-10-23 |access-date=2025-11-15}}</ref>

Yaqoob founded Lion's Den Martial Arts Academy in Pulwama in 2015, where he has trained over 200 youths in martial arts; several of his students have represented Jammu and Kashmir at the national level and won medals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pulwama's Owais Yaqoob Wins MMA Fight In Kazakhstan |website=Kashmir Observer |date=27 December 2024 |url=https://kashmirobserver.net/2024/12/27/pulwamas-owais-yaqoob-wins-mma-fight-in-kazakhstan/ |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pulwama MMA star Owais Yaqoob secures second international win in Kazakhstan |website=Rising Kashmir |date=23 December 2024 |url=https://risingkashmir.com/pulwama-mma-star-owais-yaqoob-secures-second-international-win-in-kazakhstan/ |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Owais Yaqoob: Second best mixed martial art player in India |website=The Voice of Kashmir |date=3 March 2021 |url=https://thevoiceofkashmir.in/meet-owais-yaqoob-second-best-mixed-martial-art-player-in-india/ |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref>

As of November 2025, Yaqoob holds a professional record of 4–1 and is ranked 11th among professional men's lightweights in South Asia by Tapology.<ref name="tapology">{{cite web |url=https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/372567-owais-yakoob |title=Owais Yaqoob {{!}} MMA Fighter Page |publisher=Tapology |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref> He has expressed his goal of competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pulwama MMA star Owais Yaqoob secures second international win in Kazakhstan |website=Rising Kashmir |date=23 December 2024 |url=https://risingkashmir.com/pulwama-mma-star-owais-yaqoob-secures-second-international-win-in-kazakhstan/ |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref>

== Mixed martial arts record ==
{{MMArecordbox
|draws=
|nc=
|ko-wins=3
|sub-wins=0
|dec-wins=2
|ko-losses=0
|sub-losses=1
|dec-losses=0
|dq-wins=
|dq-losses=
|other-wins=
|other-losses=
}}
{{MMA record start}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|5–1
|Mehmet Can Tasdoven
|TKO (knee and punches)
|[[2025 in Brave Combat Federation#Brave CF 103|Brave CF 103]]
|{{dts|2025|December|23}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:24
|[[Bukhara]], Uzbekistan
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|4–1
|Ian Paul Lora
|TKO (submission to punches)
|[[2025 in Brave Combat Federation#Brave CF 98|Brave CF 98]]
|{{dts|2025|September|19}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:54
|[[Zhengzhou]], China
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|3–1
|Shetty Pratik Sadashiv
|TKO (punches)
|Veswa FC 4
|{{dts|2025|April|19}}
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:45
|[[Panchkula]], India
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|2–1
|Amanzhol Khaisa
|Decision (unanimous)
|Naiza FC 70
|{{dts|2024|December|21}}
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|[[Semey]], Kazakhstan
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|1–1
|Mohammad Azim Mokhlis
|Decision (unanimous)
|Matrix Fight Night 14
|{{dts|2024|March|9}}
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|[[Noida]], India
|
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center|0–1
|Neeraj Panghal
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|Matrix Fight Night 11
|{{dts|2023|March|31}}
|align=center|3
|align=center|1:24
|[[New Delhi]], India
|{{small|Lightweight debut.}}
|-
{{end}}
<ref name="sherdog"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yaqoob, Owais}}
[[Category:1998 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male mixed martial artists]]
[[Category:Lightweight mixed martial artists]]

Owais Yaqoob - Revision history

Krishna57edits: put up new article.