As Muslims around the world end the Ramadan fast, the sporting world wishes blessing. Especially the UFC and Soccer are heavily involved in reaching out to their Muslim athletes and fans:
MMA
Easter changes everything for MMA
In the Christian faith, the resurrection of Jesus takes the sting out of death. The beginning of the Easter season reminds us of Paul’s call :
“Where, O death, is your sting?”
1. Corinthians 15:55
Only three days into season year’s Eastertide, the Professional Fighter’s League (PFL) will experience its own resurrection of sorts- they’ll be back on ESPN:
Kayla Harrison’s Blessing
PFL millionaire, two time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison came on the Throwing Down Podcast. She clearly defines “blessing” as only a martial artist can:
Every time we get to step on the mat is a blessing
Kayla Harrison
Takeaway lessons:
- Blessing in an action, not a state
- Blessing has a time and place
- Blessing requires training and repetition
UFC makes Islam trendy
Islam is trending on Twitter because Islam Makhachev beat Booby Green in #UFCVegas49. But of course the lightweight fighter is also a devout Muslim heading his Instagram profile with a Quran verse:
Compete with one another in doing good
Surah 2:148
PFL Champion aligns with homophobic church
Two times PFL champion Kayla Harrison went to a church Valentines Party. She attends Park Ridge Church in Coralsprings, Florida. The church aggressively claims, “Christians should oppose […] homosexuality.” Kayla is posing happily for a photo at church knowing full well that the place is very exclusive in which kinds of love are celebrated and demonized. “Happy Valentines to me but not to you,” is a strange message to teach your children.
UFC Word of the Year 2022
Brandon Royval won his flyweight bout at #UFCVegas46. A few days earlier, Raw Dawg took it upon himself to coin the UFC Word of the Year 2022: Faith!
Royval couldn’t have known it then, but on Saturday his believe in something he couldn’t see came true.
UFC Belal praises Allah
UFC Vegas 45 is in the books. After raising his arms in victory, Belal Muhammad drops to his knees in praise to Allah:
Humble White Lion at DWCS Season 5, Episode 10
Exactly one year before winning his UFC contract in the final episode of season 5 of the contender series, Yohan Lainesse, posted the following prayer on his knees:
After his knockout hook, the white lion jumps and yells loudly. Apparently, he incorporates both sides of the human experience: enthusiasm and humility, noise and silence. That’s what a well-balanced spirituality is all about.
Ofrenda from the Octagon
Victor Altamirano became a newly minted UFC fighter in DWCS season 5, episode 1. For Día de los Muertos, he proudly shares his ofrenda.
Islam Unites at DWCS Season 5, Episode 9
Two Muslim fighters won their bouts and their UFC contracts. Javid Basharat fought back, verbally and in the ring, when his opponent called him a terrorist. The UFC professional reminds his twitter followers that Islam is a religion of peace:
Gadzhi Omargadzhiev wins his UFC contract with the first kneebar ever on the Dana White Contender Series. During a recent training camp in Istanbul he took time to promote unity, when he posted, “sport unites regardless of nation and religion.”