Spark Fighting Championship returns with 12-bout card in Muscat

MUSCAT: Spark Fighting Championship is set to return for its third edition on Friday with a 12-bout card at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), bringing together Omani and international fighters for a night of combat sports as part of Sports Spark 2026.
The championship will be staged in collaboration with Scorpionest Martial Arts as part of Sports Spark, organised by OCEC and presented by Sohar International, building on the momentum generated by the first two editions.
Two headline bouts will top Friday’s card. Oman’s Muneer al Mishaykhi will take on Sina Yadollahifard, while El Sayed Ayman al Mahdi faces Antonio Tabacon Siesmundo in the other main contest.

Al Mishaykhi, Oman’s boxing champion and the top-ranked boxer in the Sultanate, will enter the ring aiming to make an impact in front of the home crowd and sees the championship as an important platform for the growth of combat sports in Oman. “I am taking part in the third edition of the Spark Championship and, God willing, you will see an exceptional performance,” Al Mishaykhi said. “This is a sport that thrives on its fans, and with their support we hope to reach the international stage.”
Beyond the two headline contests, the card features 10 further bouts involving a mix of returning fighters, newcomers and international opposition.

Saif al Ayash will face Egyptian national team boxer Mohammed Abdou, who is making his Spark Fighting Championship debut, while Mohammed al Gassani takes on Ahmed Ali. Emad Bakhsh al Balushi meets Shaikh Samer al Ashkar, Malek Hanif faces Abdul Rahman Mustafa and Ahmed al Samri takes on Mulham bin Khamis al Adawi.
Elsewhere, Abdullah al Abri will face Neeraj, Ihsan Hassan Saddam meets Mehdi Marvahzadeh, Omar bin Mohammed al Zadjali takes on Omar Abdulrahman Mabkhout and Haitham Saud faces Gurniwaj Singh Virdi. The latest contest added to the card pits Hassan bin Issa al Balushi against Hazza bin Nasser al Mahrezi, taking the total number of bouts to 12.

Abdou is looking forward to making an impression on his championship debut and indicated that he hopes his first Spark appearance will not be his last. Al Gassani, meanwhile, returns determined to demonstrate the progress he has made since his previous appearance, particularly in terms of experience and fighting style.
The third edition comes on the back of a successful 2025 championship, when 20 Omani and international fighters competed across 10 bouts in front of nearly 2,000 spectators at OCEC. The programme featured boxing and kickboxing, reflecting the growing public interest in the championship and combat sports in Oman.

Wadhah al Harthi, founder of Scorpionest Martial Arts, said the progress achieved over the first two editions has encouraged the organisers to raise the level of competition and deliver a stronger programme this year. “The championship has developed significantly from one edition to the next, both in terms of the level of competition and the interest it has generated among spectators,” Al Harthi said. “The success of the previous edition has given us greater motivation for the third edition. We are looking forward to delivering competitive bouts, giving the fighters a strong platform to showcase their abilities and providing the audience with an exciting night of combat sports.”

He added that the third edition represents another step in the championship’s development, with the expanded fight card reflecting the ambition to continue building the event and strengthen its presence on Oman’s combat sports calendar.
The championship first took shape in 2024 as part of Sports Spark, providing a platform for local fighters to compete alongside international opposition and helping introduce combat sports to a wider audience.
Ahead of Friday’s action, the fighters will come face-to-face at the official face-off on Thursday, August 13. Doors will open at OCEC at 4 pm on Friday, with Fight Night scheduled to begin at 6 pm.