“But nothing will prepare you for the far Afghanistan. You can listen to their stories and pick up what you can, you listen to their stories maybe read a book or two. Until they send you out there, man you haven’t got a clue.” – James Taylor, “Far Afghanistan”
Following the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, the fundamentalist militant organization known as the Taliban regained control over a large portion of the country. A recurring motif throughout history, regime changes to a more restrictive government entity typically lead to that new governing body implementing changes to every part of society. Without going down the geopolitical rabbit hole of oppressive religious practices or potential human rights violations and sticking primarily to sports, the Taliban enacted multiple alterations to MMA when reassuming power. A few immediate differences included: fighters must wear rash guards on their legs past their knees, the gloves must be larger than four ounces, and, most problematic, the Taliban must be present at all events to observe the proceedings.
Forcing combatants to dress a certain way for competition, different than anywhere else, can be an issue but is not necessarily disqualifying. Sporadic MMA leagues allow fighters to wear pants in professional competition, and it is even permissible in some major organizations. Changing glove size is a larger concern because some federations have ironclad distinctions on four-ounce gloves for pros and six-to-eight for amateurs – but that also could be allowable if it is consistent for every professional statewide. However, we draw the line with the Taliban’s mere presence in the building. To put it sharply, the Taliban is not welcome in MMA.
Above is a video from an event called Khost Fight Night Championship 1, which took place in May 2022 in Khost, Afghanistan – about 150 miles southeast of Kabul, for those curious. The cover image of this article is also a photograph of this specific fight card. It was reported that this was one of the first events permitted by the Taliban since its takeover, and with it came a nationalistic theme of Afghanistan vs. Pakistan. In all 10 bouts on the billing, a home-country combatant faced off against a challenger from Pakistan. Guess how many locals won against foreign opponents?
That wasn’t a trick question. All 10 men from Afghanistan defeated their foes from Pakistan. From Abdullah Marshal in the curtain jerker to Besmillah Achekzai in the main attraction, competitors from outside the country all got wrecked. Coincidence? Careful planning? Lopsided matchmaking? Is something more malevolent at play? You be the judge: the cage was surrounded by men carrying assault rifles, placed there by the Taliban to enforce security and man the doors. If you were a professional fighter in hostile territory under those conditions, with gunmen glaring at you or worse, would you feel intimidated or concerned for your safety? Leandro Barbosa Paes Barreto did.
At a Truly Grand FC event in 2021, this Brazilian competitor took a bout in Kabul, and his experience on fight day was anything but grand. According to Barbosa, he was allegedly approached by an armed man who began to shout at him in a language other than Portuguese. That same person, along with a locked-and-loaded security detail, approached the cage while Barbosa was competing and, per the fighter, screamed at him with similar aggressive or hostile messages that made him concerned for his well-being. The Brazilian went down in the second round from a not-seemingly damaging knee to the midsection and claimed he took a fall so that he would “preserve [his] life.” Sadly, this kind of story has been far from uncommon in the region in the last few years.
We at Sherdog Fight Finder have received numerous reports or statements from fighters or their teams that felt similar to Barbosa. Whether due to vague concerns of uneasiness or outright statements that they were told to lose or they and their family would be killed, something is rotten in the state of Afghanistan. It is not to generalize the entire nation based on numerous bad actors, but when there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Ben Duffy/Sherdog.com illustration
“Hello. I am a coach and I had sent two of my students to BFN [Best Fighters Night, in Afghanistan] competitions. When they went there, the Taliban terrorists did not give them food and forced them to lose. That’s why none of the other fighters of Iran and other countries won, only the fighters of Afghanistan won!!”
Best Fighters Night only has one event registered on Sherdog Fight Finder, and it was added to our database before the report and corroborating evidence with photographs came in. The Taliban was right smack in the middle of this fight card, one that ran before the aforementioned KFN debacle, and it had fingerprints of manipulation and corruption all over it. Again, every fighter not from Afghanistan lost, and the results seemed all but pre-determined.
“You know, the Taliban have conquered Afghanistan. They threatened us that if there is a problem in the refereeing, they will stop the matches.”
Taliban interference runs deep, not just towards the competitors, but in the actual operation of the events. Recall the rogue Iranian organization, WGO, which decided to stop fights because of “recognition of technical superiority by the judging committee” or simply if a contest was seemingly non-competitive. Multiply that type of meddling by several factors, including when matches should or should not be stopped, which athlete wins the decision even if they did not earn it, or anything in between. Any of those flagrant collusive acts would be grounds for a league to be disqualified from Fight Finder, and when it comes to some of these orgs, every horrible box is checked.
Look back on the KFN bout from above and notice if you see a real problem. You will. Seconds after the timestamped portion of the video, the corner of the Pakistani throws in the towel. Instead of waving off the fight like a good official or decent human being, the ref, known only as Abdulshokor, hurls the towel out of the cage and lets the shellacking continue. Sher Shah Mubariz is given another 15 seconds to bludgeon the helpless Bashir Achekzai, all while his corner screams like Ellaria Sand for the match to be stopped and for someone to do something. The defeated Achekzai is only saved when the negligent referee elects to pull Mubariz off of him as if he were tossing Rousimar Palhares off of Mike Pierce. The native of Quetta, Pakistan, has not fought since that punishing 46-second embarrassment of officiating.
The saddening tale of the state of Afghan MMA is far from over, and a subsequent FF-Files investigation will break down additional matters found throughout the country. From head-scratching designations of professional vs. amateur bouts to promotions forging government ID documents to imaginary leagues trying to make a quick buck, nothing is off the table for some of these hucksters.
If you have the inside track on some funny business in Afghanistan, please send the details and any other Fight-Finder-related requests to fightfinder@sherdog.com.