Ahmad Al Darmaki eyes hero status and more

Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s only professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter, Ahmad Al Darmaki, insists he “will be more than a hero in the ring” at Tuesday’s evening’s Abu Dhabi Warriors 4 extravaganza.

As Gulf News reported on Saturday, the 27-year-old has been training in the blazing Abu Dhabi desert heat for a grudge match against Artiyom Gorodynets.

He feels the Ukrainian controversially beat him at the third edition of the UAE capital’s MMA showpiece last October by using an illegal armbar submission – his third loss in as many fights as a professional.

Another failure at the IPIC Arena at Zayed Sports City is not an option for Al Darmaki, who was in bullish mood at the pre-event press conference at the Hilton Capital Grand hotel in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

“I have just one thing in my mind and that’s to win – not one per cent of me is thinking about losing,” he said. “I’ve been training in 45-degree heat in the desert. I am a hero in the desert and tomorrow night in the ring I will be more than a hero.”

Spotting Gorodynets in the audience, the Fujairah-born lightweight added: “Thank you for accepting the fight. It’s very kind of you.

“You could have said no to this fight.”