On Thursday, Kurdish mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Namo Fazil met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani after his recent success at the Netflix MMA event in Los Angeles on May 16.

“A pleasure to see Kurdish MMA star Namo Fazil in Erbil today,” KRG Prime Minister Barzani posted on X. “You made us all proud and we will continue supporting and rooting for you.”

Read More: Kurdish MMA Fighter Namo Fazil Wins at Netflix Event

MMA fighter Fazil defeated the U.S. MMA fighter Jake Babian in a welterweight bout with an anaconda choke by submission in Los Angeles in Round 2 at the Netflix MMA event last week, broadcasted live to thousands of viewers.

“I had a shit week, but at the end of the day we did it,” Fazil told Netflix after his win. Fazil wore the Kurdish flag before taking the stage, and raised it after his victory.

After his victory, Fazil holds a professional record of 10 wins and one loss.

Last Sunday, President Masoud Barzani also congratulated Kurdish MMA fighter Namo Fazil on his victory over Jake Babian.

Currently, several Kurdish athletes have gained recognition for participating in professional fighting sports all over the world, including the German Kurdish boxer Agit Kabayel, who won the WBC Interim World Heavyweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in February 2025, and is sponsored by Visit Kurdistan.