Ronaldinho and Javier Mendez attend DF UNCAGED launch in Amman

Amman has begun its Mixed Martial Arts Week ahead of the DF UNCAGED tournament, with international fighters and prominent figures from combat sports attending the launch, including world-renowned coach Javier Mendez and Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho.

The event’s press conference brought together athletes, coaches, international guests and media representatives, while the fighters due to compete on 30 October were presented ahead of the tournament’s main contests at Amman’s Roman Theatre.

Zaid Mirza, chief executive of Jordan Combat Consulting and founder of Desert Force, said hosting the event was an important step in strengthening Jordan’s position on the global mixed martial arts map.

He said staging the fights at prominent historic sites gave the tournament an exceptional character and helped showcase the cultural and tourism attractions of the country.

Mirza also highlighted the opportunities the tournament would provide for Jordanian fighters, allowing them to compete alongside leading international athletes and gain new experience. Local fans, he added, would also be able to watch international-level competition on home soil.

Abdulrahman Al-Hosami, founder and chief executive of event organiser Makanah 360, underlined the role of traditional media and digital platforms in expanding the tournament’s international reach and introducing it to new audiences.

He said major sporting events had become an effective way to promote tourism and cultural destinations, particularly through content shared by athletes and public figures with their followers.

Mendez praised the organisation of the event and the attention given to the fighters. He described the care provided to the athletes as among the best experiences he had encountered during his career in mixed martial arts.

International fighters Mohamed Berkhamov, Dante Schiro, Andrew Sanchez and Mikhail Raguzin were introduced at the press conference. They will compete at the Roman Theatre in an event combining professional sport with the distinctive setting of one of Amman’s historic landmarks.

The fighters said they were pleased to be taking part in the tournament in Jordan. Competing at one of Amman’s most prominent historical sites, they said, added a special dimension to the experience and offered them an opportunity to learn more about the country’s culture and history.

Jordanian representatives Farih Al-Harashah, Abdullah Jawish, Zaki Kayali and Yazan Balawi will also compete. They expressed their pride at representing Jordan at an international event and said appearing in front of a home crowd would provide additional motivation to perform at their best and demonstrate the development of mixed martial arts in the country.

The week’s schedule continues with open training at the Dead Sea Corniche on 28 October, followed by the official weigh-in ceremony at Amman’s Citadel on 29 October. The programme concludes on 30 October with the DF UNCAGED Fight Night bouts at the Roman Theatre.

The event is being organised by Makanah 360 and Jordan Combat Consulting under the supervision of the Jordan Mixed Martial Arts Federation, with support from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board, as well as a number of public- and private-sector institutions and partners.

The tournament forms part of wider efforts to develop sports tourism in Jordan and attract international events that promote the country as a destination combining sport, tourism and culture.