Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady

When and why did you start training for fighting? I loved fighting all of my life. I was never a bad kid, but just enjoyed the roughness, and the challenge of being the toughest kid on the block. Aside from the actual fights, I enjoy training for it because it’s the most challenging and grueling thing I can do, and as someone that lives off overcoming challenges, this is what I live for. It’s the most I feel alive when I have a fight scheduled, and I can wake up every day knowing that I have a chance to get better and closer to the victory. Lots of my teammates would describe my obsession as crazy because I really do enjoy the process, even the parts that suck. I started training MMA in 2011 and was just inspired and motivated by watching fights with my father, and I joined a kickboxing gym by my house and won every national kickboxing championship in Jordan until I found myself in an MMA gym and started fighting professional MMA at 17. And things after that just kept happening at a fast pace, winning fight after fight. I knew from the first professional fight I had that this is the career I wanted to pursue, which made me choose my major to be physical education at university so it could help me understand how to be a better athlete, which would help me in my fighting career, and that is how I was always a full-time fighter and personal trainer. 

What ranks and titles have you held? Desert Force featherweight champion, Brave Combat Federation lightweight champion, Fury FC lightweight champion, many BJJ and Muay Thai gold medals all over the world. 

Do you have any heroes? My father is my hero; he was always the hardest worker and did everything he can without rest until he got the job done. I’m inspired by his work ethic and carry that into my training. His dream was to become a fighter but got career-ending injuries before his first potential fight, and I have been fighting since the beginning to make him proud as he is after seeing me win title after title, but the ultimate goal and dream is the UFC title. 

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? Everything in the world; it’s the dream I’ve been living, working and training to reach since 2011.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Bachelor’s in physical education 

What was your job before you started fighting? High school student, full time MMA fighter/ personal trainer since 2013

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? 22-1 amateur Muay Thai 

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? 8-1 pro grappling/ Submission only, etc. 

If any, list ranks in any martial arts styles: BJJ brown belt

Favorite grappling technique: Suplex

Favorite Striking technique: Superman punch