Muslim fighters have been dominating in the sport of boxing and MMA for a long time and seem to constantly be on the top. Why is this? Does being a Muslim somehow help fighters be the best they can be? Today we will explore this:
The best in the world
Some of you may be reading this and be thinking this cant be true. Lets share the facts.
The best Muslim boxers
Muhammad Ali – Known as “The greatest” beloved by almost all fight fans. Muhammad Ali blurred the lines between sport and faith and was a devote Muslim, befriending Malcolm X who was known as the main catalyst in Ali’s conversion to the faith.
Naseem Hamed – Known as the “Prince” Hamed was known for his flashy style, in your face personality, and punching power.
Mike Tyson – “Iron Mike” He converted to Islam while he was serving a prison sentence in 1992. Tyson has described his conversion to Islam as a turning point in his life, and he has credited the religion with helping him fight the demons of his past.
Bernard Hopkins – “The Executioner” Hopkins was one of the most successful boxers of his generation. He competed professionally until the age of 51, even winning a world title at 46 making him the oldest boxer in history to win a world title.
The best Muslim MMA fighters
Khabib Nurmagomedov – “The Eagle” He never lost a fight, retiring from the sport with 29 wins. Outside the cage Khabib is known for his kindness, dedication to his Muslim faith, and his commitment to his family and community.
Alex Pereira – “Poatan” Pereira dominated the kickboxing scene in Glory achieving a record of 33 wins and only 7 losses. He is now on a 7 winning steak in MMA notably beating rival Israel Adesanya on multiple occasions. Alex converted to Islam in 2015.
Islam Makhachev – Currently 24 – 1 in MMA. He was the protege of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (Khabib’s father) followed by Khabib himself.
Belal Muhammad – “Remember the Name” Currently 22 – 3 in MMA. Like Islam & Khabib he has a good wrestling base but is good on the feet too. Belal recently went to train with Khabib’s team. He talked about his experience on the JRE explaining how regimented it is and feels the Muslim faith is what brings it together.
What is it about the Islam faith that creates the best fighters?
Culture & Discipline
The Muslim faith is one of discipline, praying 5 times a day. Also, during Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset. Islam places a strong emphasis on mental toughness, which is an important quality for success in combat sports.
Community
Today in MMA we see many Muslim fighters training together as a big camp, they pray together, they eat together and they support each other. Khabib’s team has set an example of what a strong community looks like and support each other in and out of the cage.
Summary
Muslim fighters are taught discipline within the religion and this extends into the everyday life. Less partying, less alcohol and drugs. This means that fighters keep their eyes on the prize and are less likely to be influenced to do things that may effect their performance within the cage/ring. Some fighters even perform within Ramadan which is an unbelievable achievement.
Why Muslim fighters are the best in the world?
Some of the best fighters of the world are practicing Muslims, the religion is very disciplined and likely supports fighters keeping them out of trouble and focused on the task
Who are the best Muslim boxers?
These are some of the greatest boxers who follow Islam – Muhammad Ali, Naseem Hamed, Mike Tyson and Bernard Hopkins.
Who are the best Muslim MMA fighters?
These are some of the best Muslim MMA fighters – Khabib Nurmagomedov, Alex Pereira, Islam Makhachev and Belal Muhammad