Totally Tae Kwon Do Magazine - Issue 17 - Usadojo

The War In Singapore
USA Vs Afghanistan @ Martial Combat 4
TKD TKD Black Black belts belts Square Square Off Off In In MMA MMA
Warring nations will collide in Singapore
next week when two Taekwondo black
belts from vastly different backgrounds
meet in an MMA fight. Malik Mawlayi hails
from war torn Afghanistan, Cyrus
Washington the USA, and both will do
battle at Martial Combat 4.
This eagerly anticipated international
lightweight bout will be the main attraction
of the fourth Martial Combat event to take
place in Singapore. Mixed martial arts is
gradually growing in popularity in South
East Asia and a sell out crowd is expected
at Resorts World Sentosa.
There are tens of thousands of US troops
currently in Afghanistan but there will only
be two men in the Martial Combat cage on
June 17th. While neither man has strong
political views they are both intensely
patriotic and proud to be representing their
respective countries on the international
stage.
By James Goyder
"You don't hear many good things about
Afghanistan these days and this is my
chance to show the world that something
good can come out of Afghanistan. Afghan
people are warriors, we never give up and
this is something which I have in my blood,
I will never give up," said Mawlayi.
Washington is also looking forward to flying
the flag for his country in Singapore.
"Anytime you get an opportunity to
represent your country on an international
stage it is a great experience. I see this as
a chance to showcase my abilities and
prove to the world that America is a nation
full of fighting spirit," he said.
Washington is based at Tiger Muay Thai in
Phuket and Mawlayi is at Legacy Gym in
Ubon Ratchatani. Both men have black
belts in Taekwonowdo and both men now
live and train in Thailand but the similarities
end there. Washington is primarily a Muay
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