Mixed martial arts (MMA) is gaining popularity in the Middle East, and it’s no wonder there are many talents and fans here, eager to see their local heroes on the big stage.

One Championship is one of the few tournaments where athletes from the Middle East feature prominently. It has singled out world champions and rising stars and provided them with a platform to showcase their skills to millions of fans around the world.

As major cities such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai become the hubs for combat sports in the region, spectator numbers are on the rise and there will be multiple matches played at One Championship before the end of this year.

Here are three fights in the Middle East that we would like to see in the second half of 2022.

1. Amir Ali Akbari vs. Brandon Vera

Greco-Roman wrestling world champion Amir Ali Akbari signed One Championship in August 2020 and the Iranian player wanted to fight the strongest man in the group in his first fight. Therefore, he was soon invited by the world champion “One” in the heavyweight category Brandon Vera.

However, they never got to fight in the ring.

Although it has been two years since the first Filipino-American, Ali Akbari, summoned Faith, this battle is still capturing the masses. The Iranian is more dangerous than ever, his arms are strong, and he wants to fight the elites.

Vera may not be holding the belt anymore, but the former heavyweight king is keen to come back and fight for a world title, and he might want to take on the Middle Eastern giants along the way.

Between their skills, drama, and potential World Cup repercussions, now is finally the perfect time to watch Ali fight.

Larger and more abundant.

2. Mohamed Karaki vs. Ken Hasegawa

Former middleweight members of ONE, Mohamed Karaki (also known as “Oh Lotador”) and Ken Hasegawa, are the two superstars of this action movie. Regardless of the outcome, when their battles ended, you could never doubt the resilience and warrior spirit they showed in the cage.

Born in Lebanon, Karaki is the undefeated champion of the Desert Forces. Eight of his nine career victories came to an end before the fight, including five submissions and three knockouts. Oh Lotador also has good experience which he will need against an opponent like Hasegawa.

Hasegawa is a standing beast, the strong Japanese is an advanced fighter who doesn’t back down from any gunfight and will be more than ready to face a crane if they meet in a “circle”.

Now that the two have moved up to welterweight, this fight is a real opportunity and a potential Ball of the Year contender.

3. Dagi Arslanaliev vs. Saiged Isagakhmaev

The Turk Dagi Arslanaliev burst onto the stage with lightning speed, sweeping away everything in its path. He won eight of his first nine fights as a professional MMA fighter, including seven first round finishes.

Arslanaliev seemed unstoppable until he faced former World Lightweight Champion Christian Lee in the final of the ONE World Lightweight Championship in October 2019. Since then, the Turk has been trying to return.

Most recently, he defeated his longtime rival Timofey Nastyukhin in a match now known as the 2021 MMA Fight of the Year.

Meanwhile, Saiged Isagakhmaev has emerged as one of the most feared lightweight contenders for One Championship. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s apprentice joined the organization earlier this year, debuting with a dominant game against former world title challenger James Nakashima.

With an unquenchable thirst to destroy their opponents, Arslanaliev and Izagakhmaev are undoubtedly on the path of an inevitable clash, and fans will not be disappointed when the two finally face each other in a circle.