Jordan is about to welcome one of football's greatest legends. Brazilian wizard Ronaldinho will arrive in the Kingdom on 29 and 30 October for an exceptional visit to attend "Jordan Mixed Martial Arts Week", an event designed to promote sports tourism and showcase the country's historic destinations.
In a short Instagram clip, Ronaldinho fired off an enthusiastic message to Jordanian fans. He spoke of his passion for meeting them during the event and urged everyone to come along.
The spectacle kicks off on 27 October under the supervision of the Jordanian federation for the sport. It all builds towards the grand fight night "DF: UNCAGED" (Desert Force Uncaged) on Friday 30 October, staged in the heart of the Roman Amphitheatre in the capital Amman. Organisers expect it to rank among the biggest MMA events in the history of the Arab world.
Thirteen professional bouts make up the card, pulling together an elite cast of Jordanian and international fighters, with open training sessions planned in the Dead Sea area.
One clash stands out above the rest. Circassian champion Mohammed Barkhamov, a former ACA titleholder and ex-Bellator fighter from the Caucasus who trains alongside the two legends Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, takes on promising Jordanian star Abdullah Jawish, carrying the Kingdom's hopes into this historic bout.
Rounding off the drama, the closing night at the Roman Amphitheatre will draw an exceptional constellation of stars and prominent figures. Global boxing legend Mike Tyson and MMA star Islam Makhachev lead the line-up, alongside the wizard Ronaldinho.