ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A 28-year-old Kurdish MMA fighter who disarmed a man carrying an AK-47 outside a Leipzig nightclub is preparing to headline a major fight in the German city on November 7, after police details of his intervention brought renewed attention.
Idris Haj Ismail, a Kurd from northeast Syria (Rojava) who works as a security guard and automotive mechanic, subdued the armed man outside the N39 club in Leipzig on December 7 last year, preventing him from entering a crowded venue, according to German outlet TAG24.
Now known as Idris “The Shark” Ismail, he is preparing to headline the inaugural Nexzone Fight Night in Leipzig on November 7.
“On November 7th in Leipzig, the main event fight in this region is mine, and I will be competing... It is a very important fight,” he told German outlet TAG24.
For Ismail, the upcoming bout is also an opportunity to represent his Kurdish identity and earn recognition for his community.
“God willing, I will make myself and all Kurds proud... I will raise the flag of Kurdistan high,” Ismail told Rudaw's Hemen Abdulla in Diaspora program aired on Friday.
He also appealed to Kurds living abroad to rally behind him ahead of the contest.
“I hope all our fellow Kurds will support me.”
Ismail has lived in Germany for fewer than 10 years and balances his work in automotive mechanics with evening shifts in security. His intervention outside the Leipzig club has since drawn attention to the Kurdish fighter beyond the sporting arena, placing him in the spotlight ahead of what he describes as a pivotal fight in his career.
The incident unfolded at around 2am as the club, located in the Konigshauspassage, had reached capacity, with approximately 600 guests inside and Leipzig’s Christmas market taking place outside.
“It was a stressful evening; we had about 600 guests inside, and the Christmas market was going on right outside the door,” Ismail said.
The man had repeatedly attempted to gain entry but was turned away because the venue was full. He eventually returned with an assault rifle, catching the security staff off guard.
“He came once, twice, three times... then he pulled out the Kalashnikov,” Ismail recounted.
“At first, I thought he was pulling out a machete—never in my life would I have guessed that it was an AK-47!” he told TAG24.
The armed man pointed the weapon at Ismail and his colleagues and threatened them. While his coworkers were frightened by the confrontation, Ismail said he remained composed.
“He threatened us... but honestly, I wasn't afraid,” he said.
Rather than retreat, Ismail confronted the gunman before he could fully prepare the weapon to fire. He wrestled the rifle away, restrained the man and handcuffed him before waiting for police to arrive.
“I attacked him... I wrestled the weapon away from him... I pinned him to the ground and handcuffed him,” he said.
Police subsequently informed Ismail that the suspect had a criminal record and that another weapon was found during a search of his home, according to his account. The discoveries underscored the potential gravity of the confrontation, although it remains unclear whether the suspect had intended to carry out a mass shooting.
Ismail’s ability to confront the armed man was shaped in part by his experience as a professional MMA fighter. Despite having begun training only four years earlier, the 28-year-old has built a record of four wins and one loss.
“I am a professional fighter,” he said, explaining his confidence in handling the dangerous encounter.
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