- Title: Meet the 'fierce savage', Jordan's only female MMA fighter
- Date: 10th October 2021
- Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (OCTOBER 6, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LINA FAYYAD FIGHTING AS PART OF HER TRAINING FAYYAD DURING WARMUP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER, LINA FAYYAD, SAYING: "My name is Lina Fayyad. I play martial arts." VARIOUS OF FAYYAD TRAINING WITH TEAM MATE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER, LINA FAYYAD, SAYING: "My father used to be a boxer when he was young. He used to encourage me to engage in combat sports. My family including my father used to encourage me as well when they saw me training and taking part in contests. I believe that each person was born with a passion to work on to be happy in life. This is my happiness!" VARIOUS OF FAYYAD TRAINING WITH TEAM MATES FIGHTERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER, LINA FAYYAD, SAYING: "There is no other woman playing this game in Jordan. In the beginning, I used to train with young men which was really strange. They supported and helped me a lot. Eventually this is sports! Society was among the challenges I encountered. I received criticism because I played such a game and was told I am a woman trying to be a man." VARIOUS OF TWO MEN FIGHTING FAYYAD WATCHING FIGHT VARIOUS OF FAYYAD KICKING TRAINING PAD VARIOUS OF FAYYAD TRAINING WITH HER TEAM MATE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER, LINA FAYYAD, SAYING: "I have many nicknames, but I know what you are referring to. You are talking about 'Absi' and 'fierce savage'. When I first started MMA my hair was very short and it was red. So I looked like Absi (a famous cartoon character)." VARIOUS OF YOUNG FIGHTERS TRAINING VARIOUS OF FAYYAD TRAINING
- Embargoed: 24th October 2021 11:21
- Keywords: MMA female fighter gender equality sports
- Location: AMMAN, JORDAN
- City: AMMAN, JORDAN
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA001EYKSXG5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thirty-one-year old Lina Fayyad jabs and sprawls with a male Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter as she prepares for her upcoming match in the UAE Warriors Arabia Championship.
As the only professional female MMA fighter in Jordan, Fayyad is a member of an all mens team, 'Gladiators', with whom she trains and competes in regional and international championships as she has no local counterparts.
The young fighter, dubbed as the "fierce savage" has been engaging in combat sports since 2012 thanks to the support of her father - a former boxer - who encouraged her to pursue combat sports.
While supported by her male team members, her career has been full of challenges due to stereotypes and a backlash from society.
"(I) was told I am a woman trying to be a man," she said while training.
Describing MMA as her 'happiness', Fayyad enjoys the game as it combines techniques from various combat sports.
Fayyad is a two-time Arab world kickboxing champion and has won her fight in the UAE Warriors Arabia Championship in Abu Dhabi in June. She is scheduled to compete again in October.
(Production: Muath Freij, Jehad Abu Shalbak) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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