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Muhidin Abubakar | Fighting The Fight For Himself & Thousands In Need

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This is the story of Muhidin Abubakar, the undefeated 23-year-old professional Mixed Martial Arts prospect, who outside of the fight game, is fighting the fight for thousands of people in need.

It’s fair to say, MMA as a whole, the sport and the practitioners who take part, get quite a bad rap in and out of the media, from people who don’t follow it closely. Fighters can be and are often unfairly stereotyped for their work inside the cage, but what happens outside of the cage? Why are the stories and endeavours they undertake outside of fighting not told to the masses?

Before becoming a fighter, Muhidin Abubakar was “just a normal kid”, playing football with his friends and getting into fights. Now, he’s an undefeated professional prospect, fighting out of ESKF in London, with three wins via stoppage and not a sweat broken in the process. But that’s inside the cage. Outside the cage, he’s a generous character who strives to help others.

Muhidin Abubakar after his recent victory on Fight Star Championships
(Credit: Instagram: @m_abubakar98): Muhidin Abubakar after his most recent victory

Explaining how he always wanted to do charity work abroad, the 23 year old was offered the opportunity to do just that in 2021: “I’ve always wanted to do charity work abroad, and it’s always been in my nature to help people when I can. As of actually starting to do it, someone asked me a year ago if I wanted to go and I took the opportunity. It was during the month of Ramadan, so it was perfect timing. Every time I come back home, I just can’t wait to go back.”  

Muhidin’s first aid work was in Lebanon during COVID-19, where he has now visited four times to help with food, money, and other basic necessities. The heart-breaking reality is, that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation in Lebanon was frightful. Some people couldn’t afford relevant healthcare, which in many cases, led to people dying.  

“It affected the people there a lot, some people were really suffering and then when they would get COVID, either they had to take debts to get medical attention, or simply just couldn’t afford it and a lot of people were dying due to the lack of healthcare.” he said.

The economic crisis in Lebanon has been going on for many years now with Lebanon facing their worst socioeconomic crisis in decades. According to UNHCR, Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees per capita worldwide.

“It’s a very under the radar place in terms of their problems, people don’t know their economic situation and how bad it was during COVID. The exchange rate when I was there in April (2021) was £1 would give you 15,000 (Lebanese pound), and now a year later it’s 32,000, whereas 2-3 years ago it was 2,000.

“And then you’ve got a lot of refugees there from Syria and Palestine who have been through a lot as well, so there’s too much work that needs to be done there.” Muhidin said.

Muhidin Abubakar on his recent trip to Lebanon
(Credit: Instagram: @m_abubakar98): Muhidin on his most recent trip to Lebanon

Muhidin returned to Lebanon at the end of April this year during Ramadan, once again to help in any way possible. Not only does Muhidin help with supplies, but he is also the friendly face that a lot of children and families in need look forward to seeing. In many cases, they can’t go to school and don’t have many interactions.

Although it may not seem like it’s the case, there are several fighters throughout MMA that outside of the cage, show their selfless generosity. Another example being UFC Lightweight, Dustin Poirier. In 2018, the Louisianan set up a non-profit organisation, ‘The Good Fight Foundation’. In the past, Poirier has auctioned off pieces of his fight worn kit like gloves and shorts, and then donated the money to his Good Fight Foundation.

Both fighters are undoubtably at different parts of their professional fight careers. But despite that, they both have a common goal outside of becoming the best fighter in the world, and that is to help people who need it.

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Paul Hughes Gets New Opponent as Oduwole Out

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Cage Warriors – Europe’s Leading MMA Organisation – have today announced a change in the scheduled opponent for Irish superstar Paul Hughes at Cage Warriors 170. 

An injury occurring just days after he signed to fight Hughes has forced Yemi Oduwole out of the contest. 

The promotion wishes him a speedy return to full health. 

CW officials have moved quickly to secure a suitable replacement, today confirming that Hughes will remain on the Saturday, April 6th bill, now facing off with Edgar ‘Smooth’ Escarrega. 

The bout will feature on the main card of CW 170 at Dublin’s iconic RDS, and air live on UFC Fight Pass and international broadcast partners. 

The 29-year-old Escarrega, who hails from the port city of Ensenada in Baja California, Mexico, brings an impressive 12-3-1 record to the contest. 

The Victory Fight Club man – who is a striker by trade – is unbeaten in his last six contests, and from twelve victories has a total of five KOs, two submissions and five points wins to his name. 

“From Mexico to the world, here I come!” said Escarrega, when signing on the dotted line for what is undoubtedly the biggest opportunity of his professional career. 

Hughes, from County Derry, is widely considered to be on the cusp of signing with the UFC following a series of impressive performances in the famous yellow gloves of Cage Warriors. 

‘Big News’ recently vacated his featherweight title, moving up to the 155lb division to stop top contender Jan Quaeyhaegens in the first round. 

Also scheduled for the CW 170 card, Dublin’s James ‘Jimbo Slice’ Sheehan contests the vacant welterweight title with Switzerland’s Daniel Konrad, with Ger Harris, Solomon Simon, Decky McAleenan, Taka Mhandu and more set to feature. 

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“I Should Get The Shot” – Jacob Smith Wants World Title Fight If He Bests Denis Puric At ONE Fight Night 21

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Fiery flyweight Muay Thai star Jacob Smith enjoyed a triumphant return to ONE Championship last December at ONE Fight Night 17 after 18 months on the sidelines. 

The Scouse striker knocked out Walter Goncalves to gain momentum in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and he plans to add to it next month.

Smith returns to action against Bosnian-Canadian powerhouse Denis Puric at ONE Fight Night 21: Eersel vs. Nicolas on Saturday, 6th April, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. 

Fans anticipate a thunderous clash, as they are both known to finish fights. Smith feels he knows what to expect from Puric, and he plans to give him an unwelcome gift for his birthday. 

“I’m either going to stop him with the knee or stop him with an elbow. I feel like the first round is going to be quite fiery. But if he decides to rush me too early, he’s going to walk into some big shots, so I could just finish him in round one,” he said. 

“But I’m sure I’m fighting him on his 39th birthday. So, unfortunately, my birthday present is going to be me knocking him out.”

When Jacob Smith debuted in ONE Championship at May 2022’s ONE 157, he battled ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon across three rounds of hard-hitting action. 

He came up short that night via unanimous decision, and a series of injuries forced him to take time away from action afterward. But that gap seemed to have allowed him level up his skill set. 

Smith came back stronger than ever, and his first-round finish of Goncalves last December pegged him as one to watch. The #2-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender is hoping to score back-to-back wins against Puric next month, and he knows exactly what he wants if he’s successful.

“My goal is to be ONE Championship Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion, and fingers crossed by the end of the year that comes through,” Smith said. 

“Rodtang is the champion, and Superlek is number one. After beating Walter, I’m now number two. Rodtang and Superlek are probably going fight each other again soon. Then I should get the shot at the winner after I beat Puric.”

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UFC Vegas 89 – Results | Ribas vs Namajunas

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Live from the Apex, UFC Vegas 89 saw former strawweight Rose Namajunas make her second appearance at flyweight against contender Amanda Ribas.

Note: any point deductions will be denoted by an asterisk and explained at the bottom of the page.

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Main card (2am GMT – TNT Sports)

Rose Namajunas defeats (#8) Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) – flyweight bout

Karl Williams defeats Justin Tafa via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight bout

Edmen Shahbazyan defeats AJ Dobson via knockout (punches – 4:43 – R1) – middleweight bout

Payton Talbott defeats Cameron Saaiman via TKO (punches – 0:21 – R2) – bantamweight bout

Youssef Zalal defeats Billy Quarantillo via submission (rear-naked-choke – 1:50 – R2) – featherweight bout

Fernando Padilla defeats Luis Pajuelo via submission (brabo choke – 2:45 – R1) – featherweight bout

Prelims (11pm GMT – TNT Sports/UFC Fight Pass)

Trey Ogden defeats Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – lightweight bout

Julian Erosa defeats Ricardo Ramos via submission (guillotine – 2:15 – R1) – featherweights bout

Miles John defeats Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – bantamweight bout

Jarno Errens defeats Steve Nguyen via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – featherweight bout

Darya Zheleznyakova defeats Monsterrat Rendon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – bantamweight bout

Andre Lima defeats Igor Severino via disqualification (biting – 2:52 – R2) – flyweight bout

Mick Parkin defeats Mohammed Usman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight bout

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