Iraqi Christian female fighter falls by decision at major UFC event
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Baghdad-born mixed martial artist Randa Markos competed at the sport's top level on Saturday night proudly espousing her Iraqi Chaldean heritage, but ultimately suffered a loss by judges' decision.
After three, 5-minute rounds, Brazilian Claudia Gadelha (17-4-0) won by a unanimous decision in the 115-pound (52 kilogram) division over the Canadian Markos whose record fell to 9-7-1 at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 239.
The crowd seemed unsatisfied with the decision in Las Vegas, Nevada, as Gadelha's eyes and forehead were cut, and badly bruised and swollen.
"I was very happy with [the decision]..." said Gadelha in a post-fight interview. "No one ever saw me striking for three rounds.”
Randa "Quiet Storm" Markos entered the octagon with her trademark fiery-red hair.
"And I didn't even try to take Randa down because she is a good grappler and is tough. So the strategy was to keep standing," added Gadelha.
Markos was grateful for the opportunity prior to the fight.
"I think this is a great fight for me. I've been wanting this for a long time, wanting a big step-up ... I'm really excited," she said prior to the bout.
Gadelha was billed as a grappler, while Markos has a background in Brazilian jiu jitsu and wrestling.
"Yeah ... I think we are very similar, but I think she will try to take the fight to the ground in any way she can. I think I have better striking than her, but I definitely think I'm going to end with my hand raised," Markos predicted.
The fight, however, never went to the ground and Gadelha was more successful while standing. She landed 40 of 107 (37.4 percent) significant strikes, while Markos landed just 25 of 109 (22.9 percent).
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Markos, 33, moved with her family to Ontario, Canada, when she was age 3 because her family was imprisoned by the Baath regime of dictator Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War.
The fighter caught the attention of the UFC, the world's largest mixed-martial arts organization, after competing in The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 20 in 2014. It pitted 16 of the top straw-weight fighters for the opportunity to fight at larger UFC events.
Stella Martany, an Assyrian who lives in Erbil province, expressed her happiness to Rudaw English about the opportunity for Markos.
"I'm very proud of her that she made it to the finals. I would be equally proud of any Iraqi from any ethnicity or religion. Good job for her because a lot of the minorities have to leave the country because migration is forced upon them," she said on Sunday.
Assyrians, Syriacs, and Chaldeans predominately identify as Christian, but their population has diminished following cycles of violence at the end of last century and continuing through the conflict with the Islamic State (ISIS) group.
"It's great that she had this opportunity because she probably wouldn't have this opportunity in Iraq. I hope all Iraqis can continue to achieve their goals," Martany said.
Christianity is one of the recognized religions of Iraq, but internal disagreements between Orthodox and Catholic sects have left the groups politically fragmented, in a country where religion often aligns with politics.
The last census in Iraq was in 1987, when 1.5 million Christians were counted.
Prior to the rise of ISIS in 2014, local groups estimate the Christian population stood at 400,000-600,000. Roughly half have left Iraq since 2014, and around 130,000 sought shelter in the Kurdistan Region.
Iraqi Christians were forced to flee their towns and villages across the Nineveh Plains and from the city of Mosul when ISIS militants launched a lightening campaign through the region.