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Middleton\u2019s MMA fighter Rawa Rashid is delighted he\u2019s won his first MMA contest of the year after nine months out of the cage as he defeated Keighley\u2019s Charlie Miller in front of a large crowd on the recent Combat Challenge show at Bradford\u2019s Cedar Court Hotel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got a second-round stoppage by what\u2019s called a rear naked choke. This forces the opponent to submit as basically it cuts off his air supply. If he doesn\u2019t tap out, then the referee will end the bout. Our fight was scheduled for three rounds so that\u2019s a planned nine minutes in the cage. Charlie was a tough opponent determined to win, and I\u2019m pleased that together we put on a show which the audience found entertaining, exciting and exhilarating. Charlie and I certainly did and we\u2019re both proud we had the guts to get in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rawa turns 18 in July and is building up a solid reputation as a tough, talented South Leeds fighter who will take on anyone. \u201cIt\u2019s true that I\u2019m not scared of any potential opponent at my weight. I\u2019m concentrating on MMA because it\u2019s the combat sport which unites all the disciplines. Let\u2019s face it the fights can be brutal, bloody even but are nothing if not entertaining. I\u2019ll be fighting as an adult next but already I can do pretty much anything in my fights with fists, kicks and knees. I don\u2019t wear any special protection, although using elbows is restricted to professional MMA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI train at AVT in Morley,\u201d explained Rawa who has just completed his Leeds College of building course. \u201cAt AVT I mix with top amateurs such as Mason Yarrow and Harry Edwards. They\u2019re tough, resilient, highly skilled. There\u2019s lots of young fighters at AVT whose ambition is combat sports success. I\u2019m now prioritising MMA although I also enjoy boxing. Last December, I took the 75kg novice title boxing belt on the Haynes Promotions show at The Angler\u2019s in Burmantofts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMany fighters have an alias or a moniker and mine is \u2018The Kurdish Machine.\u2019 I like the fact that people from all backgrounds come together in combat sports and we all encourage each other, hopefully irrespective of ethnic, cultural or religious backgrounds. I\u2019m no different to any other fighter as in the cage or ring my aim is to prove I belong there and that on the day I\u2019m mentally and physically tougher than the opponent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saif Khan, 56, is the promoter behind Combat Challenge. The former MMA competitor and coach retired from West Yorkshire Police in 2020. \u201cWe\u2019re proud of Rawa and Charlie who represent the best of the courageous, committed and keen young fighters our shows promote. Both boxers had trained intensively and proved it beyond doubt. We\u2019re about giving opportunities to home grown talent and providing well-matched bouts allowing elite athletes to showcase developing skill and talent through dedication and commitment at their gyms.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rawa is looking for work in the health and fitness industry. \u201cIf it allows me to share my love of combat sports then all the better. I\u2019m also open to sponsorship. If any local people or firms are potential sponsors, then I\u2019m best contacted on Instagram @rawa.lds<\/strong><\/a> or by e-mail rawarleeds235@gmail.com<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This post was written by James Bovington<\/strong><\/p>\n Photo: Coach Tom Crosby with Rawa<\/p>\n We encourage anyone living or working in South Leeds to use this website to tell their news. You can either use the Create an article for South Leeds Life<\/strong><\/a> page, or email us at: info@southleedslife.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While you\u2019re here, can we ask a favour?<\/strong><\/p>\n South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we\u2019ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.<\/p>\n Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?<\/p>\n Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly\/SLLsubscribe<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t