I was jumped by 40 people, there was no doubt I thought I would die

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I grew up in Jordan. In school we would fight every other day – it was challenging and you had to defend yourself at all times.

My father was athlete and a real man. He taught us how to look after ourselves, be brave, and defend ourselves.

At the age of 17 a friend of mine had a fight with a security guard from one of the malls in Amman. After that we were jumped by around 40 guys. My friend took off and I was left alone. They attacked me with chains, sticks, knives – you name it, and beat me up for ten minutes. 

I thought I was going to die. This was about survival and it was then a battle with myself.

The key for me was staying on my feet – I never went on my back. I tried to fight back but there were too many. I would throw a punch but then eat five or six. I was hospitalized for twelves days. But before I was taken to the hospital I went back for them. I won’t say how, but I had my revenge.

How that near-death experience pushed me to MMA

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That fight was a life lesson for me. It taught me how far I can push myself, the courage I had, and that I would never surrender. 

After that, I started boxing and jiu jitsu, and because of my past experience I had no fear of being hit. 

I wanted to get into MMA but we didn’t have it in Jordan, so the closest thing was to train jiu jiutsu. About a year later I heard of an MMA event coming to Jordan so jumped back into boxing to sharpen my hands – I knew this was for me. 

I only found out the name of my opponent two or three days before the fight, but that was fine. I knew he was good at taekwondo and kickboxing so wanted to take things to the ground. 

I landed a couple of shots early, and he then clinched me. I was so happy. I pulled guard and finished him with an armbar. It took 23 seconds. I had never felt anything like it before. There was just so much adrenaline. I was addicted.

I was celebrating in the cage and already thinking about my next fight. I knew this was where I belonged.

The inner battle with myself in the fight that seemed to last hours

Two wins later I was fighting for the first ever title in Middle East MMA.

It felt like a battle of nations. Jordan v Egypt. I had huge support from Egypt and I was up against a very good fighter, Ibrahim Sawi.

Just before the fight I broke my orbital bone and cheekbone in training. It was my fault. We were grappling and I ate a knee in my face. This was July 2012 and we were supposed to be fighting in September.

The fight was shift to December, and the excitement around it only got bigger.

For my whole camp I was worried about the injury. There was a lot of pressure to be at my best, but I couldn’t train well. I wasn’t sleeping, and didn’t feel myself. 

I wanted to cancel the fight. The fear of my injury made me worry about my future. 

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I was not worried about my opponent just myself. I was somewhere else.

On the night of the fight I could see the worry in the eyes of my cornermen. I went in with the attitude I was going to win, or die. I had to win no matter what.

Four seconds into the fight, BANG. I get a kick on the other side of my face breaking four bones.

I wake up on top of the guy and it feels like I am in a dream. I could see my corner shouting but I could not hear them.

I could see my arm was stuck. He was trying to put me in an armbar, so I tried to lift him. I was just on autopilot. 

I got my arm out and started controlling him from the top – it was then I knew my face was broken again. I felt the numbness. My heart sank. I wanted to stand up shake his hand and go home.

The fight felt like it went on for hours. I was talking to myself. I thought that even if I won my career would be over. 

It makes me emotional thinking about it.

I felt helpless. If I stop, people will say I am loser. I gave up. I couldn’t do that, I would never forgive myself.

I remembered my father, my family, and my friends. They are watching me. I cannot lose. I kept going, and going, and going.

I am on top of him, throwing elbows. I tried for armbars, but he escaped. Twice. The rounds ends, I go back to my corner and think ‘shit, how do I go back out there again.’

My corner reminds me I am a warrior and keep going.

I knew I had to fight smart. I could not see out of my right side because of the damage from the kick. He wanted to brawl and kept trying to kick me in the damaged part of my face. He threw a left and I knew that was my chance. 

I ducked under, grabbed his legs and took him down. This was my time, I was not letting him up.

I had to finish the fight.

I had blood running down through my sinuses so I could not really breathe, so I would throw five strikes and rest. Five more strikes and rest. 

These moments were the worst, and best, in my life.

Then I hit him with an elbow and I felt him change. His eyes went and he turned away, I kept striking and that was it.

I got to my feet and all I could think was if I was dreaming. I didn’t know if it was real or if I was knocked out.

Walking out of the cage, I asked my cousin who won the fight. He said it was me. It was crazy.

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