With the participation of Jordanian and international fighters.. The program for Jordan Mixed Martial Arts Week is announced

He added that the ministry seeks to expand the scope of targeted tourism markets, benefiting from the participation of celebrities, athletes, and media figures who have come from Latin America, Central Asia, the United States, and other countries, which enhances the promotion of Jordan in global markets.

Hijazeen pointed out that work is underway in cooperation with the Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth, and sports federations to prepare a calendar of sports events for 2027, with the aim of developing sports tourism and diversifying the events that can attract visitors to the Kingdom.

He praised the efforts of the partners and the relevant government agencies in preparing for the event, expressing his hope that it will achieve success that enhances Jordan's position as a destination for hosting sports and tourism events.

For his part, the founder of the "Desert Force" championship, Zaid Mirza, welcomed the participants and guests coming to Jordan, expressing his anticipation for a week full of excitement inside and outside the ring, and welcoming new faces to the events that bring together fighters and sports figures from Jordan and abroad.

Mirza explained that the week's activities will culminate in the "DF UNCAGED" fight night next Friday at the Roman Amphitheater in the heart of the capital, with the participation of Jordanian and international fighters, former champions, and global sports and media figures.

In turn, the Executive Director of "Makana 360", Abdulrahman Al-Hussami, said that the media has a pivotal role in highlighting major sports events and conveying the image of Jordan and its archaeological sites to the global audience.

He explained that holding sports events in archaeological sites allows for presenting these sites as part of a new tourism product represented by sports tourism, noting that previous experiences have proven the ability of major events to attract thousands of followers and visitors to Jordanian sites.

Al-Hussami added that mixed martial arts (MMA) enjoys a wide global following and is considered one of the fastest-growing sports in terms of viewership after football, making hosting it in Jordan an important opportunity to promote the Kingdom on a large scale.

He pointed out that choosing the Roman Amphitheater, which dates back about two thousand years, aligns with the desire to link history with modern sports, confirming that hosting fighters from different countries carries a message that Jordan is capable of organizing international events and telling its story to the world as a cradle of civilizations that offers innovative tourism products combining historical heritage and modern activities.

He valued the support provided by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board, considering that activating archaeological sites opens additional horizons for the tourism sector and contributes to enhancing the Kingdom's presence on the global sports tourism map.

For his part, the General Manager of the Desert Force championship, Mohammed Mirza, told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the public turnout, interest in the event, and ticket sales were unexpected and significantly exceeded initial estimates, noting that the organization has accumulated experience through organizing more than 50 previous international events.

He added that the participation of international fighters and their posting of content about Jordan via social media platforms contribute to promoting the Kingdom, pointing out that mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are witnessing significant growth in Jordan, which has become a regional destination for training in this field, noting that the possibility of organizing a new event next January will be discussed during the organization's annual meeting.

Meanwhile, professional American fighter Andrew Sanchez said in an interview with (Petra) that his current visit is his first to the Middle East, expressing his admiration for the level of safety and the warm welcome in Jordan, and confirming that the experience allowed him to learn about a part of the Kingdom's history, culture, and diversity.

For their part, Jordanian fighters Yazan Balawi and Abdullah Jawish confirmed that representing Jordan and promoting it is a national responsibility and an opportunity to highlight the capabilities of the Jordanian fighter before an international audience.

Balawi said that representing Jordan is a great honor and responsibility, and that the public attendance and media coverage constitute an additional incentive for the fighters to give their best, noting that his participation allows him to contribute to introducing the Kingdom, especially since he works as a German-speaking tour guide.

For his part, Jawish pointed to the importance of preparing for the competitions and presenting an honorable image of the Jordanian fighter, confirming that participating in an international event of this kind allows fighters to highlight their athletic level and introduce Jordan to participants and the public from various countries.

Global coach Javier Mendez, founder of the American Kickboxing Academy, also praised the organization and the good treatment of fighters and guests, confirming that Jordan provided a unique experience that reflects the Kingdom's high ability to host major global sports events.

The activities of Jordan Mixed Martial Arts Week continue until October 31 under the slogan "Return to the Ring," and include welcoming fighters and guests, open training sessions, media events, and the official weigh-in for fighters, before concluding with the "DF UNCAGED" fight night next Friday at the Roman Amphitheater, with the participation of Jordanian and international fighters and the presence of global sports figures and legends.