Somalia’s Abubaker shines in UAE Warriors

The Middle East’s premier mixed martial arts promotion staged another thrilling double-header over two nights of non-stop action, culminating in history being made as Muhidin Abubaker became the first Somalian champion in the history of mixed martial arts, and UFC veteran Tanner Boser returned to the Octagon in devastating form to pick up his latest TKO finish.

Abubakar defeated Victor Nunes to take interim bantamweight championship in the UAE Warriors 60 at the Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

After five rounds of back-and-forth action which took place mostly on the canvas, Muhidin Abubaker (10-1) bagged the interim flyweight title to set-up a mouthwatering unification bout with Brazil’s incumbent Iago Ribeiro (13-3).

His opponent at the Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi, Victor ‘Sombra’ Nunes (11-6) had no answer to the top control and fluid leg-wrapping of the London-based karateka, whose ground-work is beginning to mark him as a massive talent on the global stage.

His triumph didn’t come overnight—it was forged in the fire of defeat. Abubakar’s journey to the title was deeply shaped by a pivotal moment: his unanimous decision loss to South Africa’s Luthando Biko in September 2022, during the Abu Dhabi promotion. That moment, crushing as it was, lit a fire inside him—a fire that never went out.

“That day I went back dejected and disappointed,” Abubakar recalled, reflecting on the loss that would redefine his career. “But I was determined. I promised myself I would return stronger, smarter, and hungrier. I was going to be a better fighter—no matter what it took.”

Fast forward to now, and that promise has been fulfilled in stunning fashion. With his third straight win in the promotion, Abubakar didn’t just win a fight—he claimed a championship. He took home the title belt not just as a symbol of victory, but as a hard-earned reward for the countless hours of work, sacrifice, and self-belief.

“I’m really overwhelmed by tonight’s result,” he said after the bout. “To take back a title belt means everything—it’s proof of the hard yards I’ve put in since that defeat. It was a tough fight, but I believe I deserved this win.”

The evening, witnessed 12 intense fights with the participation of 24 male and female fighters from 17 countries representing different continents of the world, was attended by Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan, President of the Asian Chess Federation and Chairman of the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club; and Abdel Moneim Al Hashemi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union, First Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation (JJIF) and Chairman of Chairman of the Board of Directors of Palms Sports, event organiser.

In the co-main event of the evening, UFC veteran Boser made an emphatic debut in the UAE Warriors promotion, securing a dominant victory over Brazil’s Vinicius Moreira in a heavyweight showdown.

After a tightly contested opening round, the Canadian took control, delivering relentless damage in the second frame. The punishment proved too much, and Moreira was forced to retire one minute and 55 seconds into the third round, visibly dazed and struggling to remain on his feet.

In the welterweight division, Ukraine’s Vladislav Rudnev kept his flawless professional record intact with a composed and calculated performance, earning a unanimous decision win over Polish debutant Piotr Niedzielski.