MMA in the Middle East: Fightland.com

[@Basiltheking]

Fantastic video, its THIS side of the middle east that the media should focus on. Its not just ISIS and terrorism, there are real ambitious and GOOD people in the middle east. Couldn't be more proud to be Palestinian right now. I love MMA and this was great.

[@jamesdelheimer3373]

Basiltheking however, This also shows that people there do not enjoy near as many freedoms as we do here in the states. Most women don't have to worry too much about men grabbing them just when walking by or be afraid to use an ATM at night. Some places, sure, but most women do not worry about this here. I agree, lots of good people, everywhere. However, I feel like not many over in the Middle East are truly free. Freedom is important.

[@basilal-qaneh5998]

James Delheimer First and this is very important. Forget everything the mainstream media has told you about the Middle East. It is extremely biased and misleading. In Jordan (where this school is), drinking, sleeveless shirts on women are very common. Jordan is a lot more free than almost any other country in the Middle East. However sexism and cat calling is in fact a major problem as this woman pointed out and some areas of the country are way more conservative than others. However I disagree that its better or worse than inner cities in America, like Chicago. With Martial Arts, freedom is not political its personal. Its about being able to walk in a bar and not being afraid of a fight. Its about walking in a mall or any public space and not having to look over your shoulder. That is why its such an empowering thing to see in the Middle East and everywhere it is practiced.

[@truthispriceless1372]

@@jamesdelheimer3373 sorry to say but the States has one of the highest rape and crime rates in the world.

[@ZippyMcFadden]

Interesting report, but it should be titled "MMA in Jordan".

[@MrDavidsonJason]

Great video Vice! Great interviews of some beautiful people. So happy for them to have found an outlet such as MMA. I hope this helps others in the Mid E. as well! Cheers Vice!

[@aviavi4717]

That is exactly why I have so much respect for Jordanians, because they are peaceful people that appreciate the art.

[@TrajanaFortis]

Martial Artists recognize fellow warriors regardless of race, religion, or gender. Well done guys, keep these mma videos coming.

[@EL3IMAGERY]

Dude from Australia seemed cool as hell. Rana is hot.

[@saddambinladen3031]

+EL3 Imagery He's a freemason :)

[@ezioaditure]

@@saddambinladen3031 how did you know?

[@mirocreed]

Proud of you my fellow Jordanians : )

[@ifight4cash]

lebanon has by far the best MMA fighters in the middle east those guys kick like freakin thai's in the woods

[@yazeedal-tawil4939]

Lebs lose for jordanians my friend )) all the time! And what was this ‘like thais in the woods’ lol

[@snazdogdbfan251]

@@yazeedal-tawil4939 oh dude some muay Thai training camps go to the woods and condition by hitting banana trees

[@yazeedal-tawil4939]

@@snazdogdbfan251 I'd say that's healthy, didn't know that

[@hermitgamer]

Jiu Jitsu is originally Japanese, but the Gracie family has made Brazilian Jiu Jitsu the prominent and most well known form of submission grappling.

[@dreadfullscout1234]

more people need to this side of the middle east

[@Choogie_]

Really good I'm glad vice started doing fightland I hope they go to more countries and put videos up more often

[@TheWestboom]

if you are willing to fight for what you belive in and what you think is right that makes you a worrior if fighting is in your blood that makes you a worrior and warriors are in every part of the world no matter what your religion is im a christian and i probebly feel the same way as you about alot of things i respect peoples belives no matter what

[@Sylvestro]

American accent is easier to learn for a lot of foreign speakers, since it's more phonetic than other accents in the English language. I myself learned the American accent in Spain before being able to produce other accents. I now speak with an English accent, since I lived in England for some time.

[@mergeandsee]

Keep it going, keep expanding. Knowledge is power. To show glimpses of lives from around the world, is a powerful thing. Anyone can relate; we are the same.

[@BbqLou19]

Does Vice air on TV? I've never seen a Vice episode on any channel. I like the fact they cover stories that aren't the "Normal type of stories" that every news stations plays over and over.

[@nmannering0132]

Great vid, finally something good and productive about the middle-east. I'm sick of seeing vids on you tube about wars in the middle-east.

[@theonly1nr1]

Cool documentary, I enjoyed it much. Interesting to know Jordan is creating a platform for martial arts. I am avid myself and I know how much pleasure and confidence it can bring. I still wonder about Lebanon..

[@aviavi4717]

Jordanian Mma fighters are very good . I visited Jordan, very nice and educated people.

[@LudwigTheGhost]

Dear Vice, please continue all your videos. But if you are ever looking for anything to do in NYC specially in Inwood don't hesitate to message me.

[@TheKilmessan]

Teaching his daughter that's amazing

[@kumbackquatsta]

best episode so far. i hope there's an episode on mainland china. arab and persian women have such beautiful features

[@OiWhiskey]

I'm going say one thing you are not old to do MMA. This is a man who trains in and trains others as well.

[@lentejTV9]

I always watch these Vice videos with a mind set, lemme watch a few seconds of this right quick.... END UP WATCHING THE WHOLE THING! :D

[@ExplodingBumfluff]

Good job vice, this documentary is amazing. I have massive respect for the muslim community and this just reinstated it.

[@uchimataleao]

The Samy Al-Jamal guy hit a pretty sick throw in that short highlight. That Judo choke where you roll to the bottom is super sneaky too, wish they showed the set up. The two players they interviewed need some major work though, I wonder if the school hasn't been around long enough to have advanced students.

[@Skypad00]

This was a nice and chilled documentary.

[@HiyayaHo]

awsome muslim fighter!

[@4rightturnz489]

Damian Jones how f-ing stupid are you mu friend? You have alot to learn buddy!

[@buru44]

This is what I'm talking about vice. This is amazing.

[@TheFactsX]

I LOVE how you guys cover MMA. YEAH BUDDY!!! More please!

[@PolskiSklep89]

vice has the best documentaries, i cant find any better

[@yeshuasage3724]

Japan and Brazil are the centers of martial arts on this earth. these 2 nations have found a way to be super successful in fighting.

[@JerJam]

After 8:00 I instantly paused and KZbind, "Choke - (A Rickson Gracie Documentary)" as he mentioned Great Doc!

[@Remys-b2v]

Oh my god. Muay Thai - Thailand Jiu Jitsu - Brazil Karate - Japan Kung fu - China Tai Kwon Do - Korea Aikido - Japan And so on. Also, you're thinking of jujutsu, which is far different style. But like jiujitsu, its upclose style.

[@tremainbloom1806]

people shouldn't encourage fighting! but than again i love what hes doing for them and his purity religious views

[@mjohanss1975]

Actually no, but you were kind of close...muay thai is south-east asian (thai) and juijitsu is east asian (japanese). The brazilians developed their own style of juijitsu, however, that they call brazilian juijitsu.

[@tajrizek]

Nice documentary. Are you going to cover other countries in the middle east?

[@sergionnnnes]

There are many different accents throughout Brazil, it changes a lot from region to region but usually when we speak English we tend to speak with a very unique accent, very easy to identify

[@ilovepwd]

It's astounding he has put so much into faith which is very likely to be wrong.

[@ThePablo5660]

great video! i enjoyed this one very much

[@Gearheadliving]

Well, specifically Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu did not come from Greece. But the Greeks did have a form of "MMA" called Pancration. There are a lot of takedowns, (and possibly combinations) we use today that came from Pancration. I guess it'd be possible to compete with a Pancration background.

[@EmotionalContagion]

E.D.U.C.A.T.E.D - nice to see people that know what's what 'round here sometimes!! :)

[@A2i2ify]

that's right, with a much larger population & land too.. though not near the usa, but you get my point.

[@charlietomb585]

I think it's arabs not just muslims. I'm not Arab but I took a course on the middle east. Arabs culture comes from their ancestors: nomad warriors, families constantly on the move and constantly fighting with each other... war is a dominant part of their culture.

[@killslay]

I'd love to see a more international mma scene, won't be too long until we're seeing it in the olympics

[@KSaifPhoto]

great stuff guys really nice job thank u for doing this report

[@solukhumbu911]

"In the middle east, i think people are warriors by nature. they are born in conflicts and live their whole life in conflicts." what Bull. thats not what makes someone a warrior, warrior is a spirit within, like a thirsty and pure flame that is ever igniting.

[@roxes1000]

I lived in JO for 5 years what a amazing country .

[@Evilbusiness]

Muay Thai is Thai which is in South East Asia and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is Brazilian by definition... Regular Jiu-jitsu is Japanese

[@363Magi]

I've trained with Armenians. They're warriors! Much love to Gene Lebell and Gokor Chivichyan!

[@SponzifyMee]

Another great video, thankyou vice.

[@Chuschannel]

Badr Hari is pretty darn good. But aside from him, I haven't heard of many fighters from a middle eastern/arab background.

[@MrComic97]

i can only think of karo parisyan and manny gamburgan judo/mma

[@GrandmasterPloppy]

Badr Hari was born and trained in Netherlands. Both Parisyan and Gamburyan are Armenian, which isn't in the Middle East.

[@MrComic97]

Thank you smart aleck

[@MrComic97]

I bet u haas to look that up. Because people make mistakes

[@GrandmasterPloppy]

Dude I live in the Middle East and have an interest in martial arts. I did look it up, years ago. Maybe you can learn to learn things humbly.

[@mjohanss1975]

Well, that's possible. I believe the pankration guy would probably be at a disadvantage though (supposing the fighters from both styles are identical in skill, size, stamina and strength) since pankration would still be missing a lot of techniques, like the muay thai low kicks...those can destroy a fighter who isn't used to them. The guy I was arguing with said everything was from Greece though and by everything he meant everything. Computers, space-ships, they invented all, including karate :)

[@WaqarK96]

19 is still relatively young. Don't let it dishearten you.

[@ak74au]

Man, Rama Quppaj is so beautiful, and she can fight! thats a real woman right there.

[@streetdreamz210]

fightland is baddass! they should also make boxing documentaries.

[@BestAtNothing]

I don't think he was challenging anyone to a fight.

[@jakeiss10]

Agreed. Good comment.

[@jonnytaa]

Right on! Keep up the good work.

[@buru44]

Kind of? You have no idea how UNDERRATED ARAB AND SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN ARE.

[@GregoryCunningham]

The Brazilian's would love for you to think that. Jujitsu is an ancient martial art that the Japanese Samurai's used.

[@Hanumanshu69]

There is always negative news in the world, this is really refreshing to see. I hope more girls join MMA as well

[@c0nfidentl0ser]

love mma. love vice. this is awesomeness.

[@Beowolfenstein]

I do boxing, I'm an amateur boxer from Utah, you'll never hear of me, I don't plan on going pro, I simply stated why not do a video on amateur boxing in Ivy-league, you to my post way to offensive.

[@nodamiaen]

i am in love with this stronk jordanian womyn

[@dickknuckle707]

My point it is, the killing sprees done with a gun are much more publisized and the dangers exaggerated. It's like people are so scared of plane crashes yet your chances of dying in your car driving to the airport and many times higher. Yet the airplane crash is much more publicized.

[@magicdonjuan206]

Nicely done Vice.

[@jerzzyfinest]

You may not like his opinion, but where in his statement was he at all racist? He never said anything derogatory towards palestinians or any arabs. Nor did he say anything derogatory towards muslims.

[@sergionnnnes]

yeah my accent is exactly like that, i know it cos ive lived in the uk for 11 years, some accents are very "recognizable", brazilian being one of them

[@MaharlikaAWA]

Man fight land is soooo boring. Every episode its the same crap with all this hipster music and references edited in.

[@AfghanTornado]

The reason it has been so succesful is because MMA has existed there for a long time. One's we see MMA expand into other places there will be more diversity. Just look at kickboxing there are all kinds of people from everywhere in the world.

[@guanxing18]

I really enjoyed this video

[@skrillmau]

really cool documentary

[@kevNutella]

True man, you couldn't have said it better.

[@anthonychrisbradley]

That australian dude was really cool. Anyone with negative stereotypes about Muslims should watch this.

[@GrimrDirge]

My goodness what an adorable woman. She is awesome.

[@TulanePass]

Because MMA gives career path for those who aren't good at boxing? And maybe it's a a little more interesting and it allows those who are not great at boxing a shot at a fight career?

[@mikeoxsbigg1]

I think more countries in the Middle East should have these things.

[@ShadawGaming]

A very inspirational women indeed.

[@fireinthehamptons]

Awesome video!

[@dropBOOM]

The whole art form of Jiu-jitsu, whether " Brazilian" or japanese goes back to centuries to japan. Without japanese Jiu-jitsu theere would not be Brazilian, heck! even carlos Gracie went into Japanese Jiu-jitsu to come out what we now call Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

[@gabrieleprotopapa]

What part are you referring to? The part in which I state that the middle-east is still behind in terms of women rights or the part in which I'm contesting a father's deliberate decision to let his young daughter live there instead of a slightly more free environment - such as… Australia, for instance?

[@NOLIESJUSTTRUTHME]

Raise a child in the way he should go and he will not depart ! all His ways are ways of peace ! violence begets violence ! do NOT repay evil with evil ! on and on and on, missing the point are ya ? HalleluYAH !!!

[@ILOVEMYAZIZAM]

jujitsu was invented in japan, brazilian jujitsu is a modified version of it that was started in brazil

[@razaa09]

You sir, have earned my respect!

[@MetalKing36]

That's why i love Vice magazine. They don't give a fu** about religion and the place you live. Human is Human. I want to see more of Arabic/African/Asian/American Cultures and interesting things like this video. Who says Muslims are bad people? Look how lovely they are 04:37 how the man love's his family... sorry for my bad english

[@TommyCourchesne]

Ramzi nabulsi is a very wise man

[@panelolli]

The Australian´s voice is really relaxing

[@2JayZCres]

@beowolfenstein you just negated your own argument. "Slam Anderson Silva to the concrete", since when did boxing include takedowns? Oh wait, that is MMA! Also, someone who know how to use their knees, elbows, hands and feet, such as a mixed material artist,have a huge advantage against strictly a boxer in your theoretical street fight. But then again, you only throw knock out punches, right?

[@jack91x]

Don't forget the UAE. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, very wealthy cities. Any fighter worth anything knows about Abu Dhabi because it's the dream of every BJJ fighter.

[@MrFlav18]

Would love to see India or Thailand

[@tkzsfen]

btw journalism nowadays somehow always tends to politics when it is show on TV, but internet journalism goes into topics that aren't "mainstream".

[@Sha0linShadowb0xing]

I love Vice

[@Vikingsmasher]

This man speaks about Justice, what is justice, no justice for Christians, Homosexuals, jews and non-believers. If you want justice, start with yourself. The power of men is that we are powerful ourselves. If you need religion to lead you the way you are in a sense weak. A strong person knows what is right and wrong. Not by reading a book over and over again.

[@Poat07]

MMA = Mixed martial arts. Its a mix of every fighting style from all over the world.

[@matcotech]

What happened to the ground breaking documentaries from Vice? Shane used to go to dangerous and bizarre places almost no one would dare to go. I'm not being a hater, I just miss the old Vice.

[@ryanmurillo8625]

Actually sorry but I must correct u, Your right Jiu Jitsu did originate from japan... But not the BJJ used in mma or this Video, both is Brazilian Jiu jitsu from Brazil of course.

[@tkzsfen]

3:29 - the critical point where the movie becoes really fascinating - praying near some dudes who fight :) religion and passion

[@ckbs1]

How is this a top rated comment? You know that Islam is a religion...WOW! They're actually a very friendly people. You are just fed fear, and love the fact that you're told they're your enemy. Goodluck integrating in society mate.

[@CarlCreed76]

Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia - continents. The middle-east - region.

[@A2i2ify]

the only argument I made was that their statement was true... I'm not sure if you're following.