# Desert Force Championship

Desert Force Championship (DFC) was a mixed martial arts promotion company in the Arab world, which held most of the top-ranked Arab MMA fighters in the region. The championship has held ten televised events and presided over approximately 100 matches. DFC currently airs on MBC Action on a bi-monthly basis. In 2010 Desert Force launched the “Elimination Series”, a single-elimination tournament for Arab MMA fighters competing to become the first regional MMA title belt holders in 7 respective weight classes. Fighters from across the Middle East have competed in 7 weight classes, namely Bantamweights, Featherweights, Lightweights, Welterweights, Middleweights, Light-Heavyweights and Heavyweights; each class enforcing the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Participating countries include: KSA, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Bahrain, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia. In recent years DFC fights have been officially refereed by MMA referee Yves Lavigne.

## Current champions

| Division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Since | Title defenses |
| Bantamweight | 61 kg (134.5 lb) | Nawras Abzakh | September 5, 2016 (Desert Force 24) | 0 |
| Middleweight | 84 kg (185.2 lb) | Mohammed Karaki | December 7, 2015 (Desert Force 19) | 0 |
| Welterweight | 77 kg (169.8 lb) | Mounir Lazzez | March 23, 2015 (Desert Force 16) | 0 |
| Lightweight | 70 kg (154.3 lb) | Mohammed Treki | March 23, 2015 (Desert Force 16) | 0 |
| Featherweight | 66 kg (145.5 lb) | Aziz Julaidan | December 15, 2014 (Desert Force 14 - Al Academiya 2 Finale) | 0 |
| Welterweight | 77 kg (169.8 lb) | Ahmed Labban | November 15, 1991 (Desert Force 15 - Al Academiya 3 Finale) | 0 |

## Events

| Country | Event title | Location | Date |
| Egypt | Desert Force 19 - Egypt | Shooting Club Stadium, Cairo | 2015-12-07 |
| Lebanon | Desert Force 18 - Lebanon | Ghazir Stadium, BEIRUT | 2015-08-18 |
| Jordan | Desert Force 17 - Homecoming | Al-Hussein Youth City Boxing Arena - Amman | 2015-05-25 |
| Saudi Arabia | Desert Force 16 - Saudi Arabia | Green Halls - Riyadh | 2015-03-23 |
| UAE | Desert Force 15 - Abu Dhabi | FGB Arena | 2015-02-09 |
| Saudi Arabia | Desert Force 14 - Al Academiya 2 Finale | KSA Venue Jeddah | 2014-12-15 |
| UAE | Desert Force 13 - Abu Dhabi | FGB Arena | 2014-08-25 |
| Jordan | Desert Force 12 | Al-Hussein Youth City Boxing Arena - Amman | 2014-04-28 |
| Bahrain | Desert Force 11 Bahrain | Khalifa Sports City Arena, Manama | 2014-03-07 |
| Jordan | Desert Force 10 - Al Academiya Finale | Al-Hussein Youth City Boxing Arena - Amman | 2014-01-27 |
| UAE | Desert Force Dubai | AUD Knights Arena | 2013-10-17 |
| Jordan | Desert Force - 2013 Grand Prix Finals | Al-Hussein Youth City Boxing Arena -Amman | 2013-06-15 |
| Jordan | Desert Force - 2013 Grand Prix Semifinals | Al-Hussein Youth City Boxing Arena - Amman | 2013-03-07 |
| Jordan | Desert Force - Round 2 on MBC Action | Al-Hussein Youth City Boxing Arena - Amman | 2012-12-14 |
| Jordan | DFC - Desert Force 5 | Amman National Orthodox Club Gymnasium | 2012-09-07 |
| Jordan | Desert Force 4 - Middle East Grand Prix | Amman National Orthodox Club Gymnasium | 2012-03-30 |
| Jordan | Desert Force 3 - Elimination Series: Knockout Round | Amman National Orthodox Club Gymnasium | 2010-09-30 |
| Jordan | DFC - Desert Force 2 | Amman National Orthodox Club Gymnasium | 2011-05-19 |
| Jordan | DFC - Desert Force 1 | Amman National Orthodox Club Gymnasium | 2010-09-08 |

### Weight divisions

| Weight class name | Upper limit | Upper limit |
| Weight class name | in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) |
| Bantamweight | 135 lb | 61 kg |
| Featherweight | 145 lb | 66 kg |
| Lightweight | 155 lb | 70 kg |
| Welterweight | 170 lb | 77 kg |
| Middleweight | 185 lb | 84 kg |
| Light Heavyweight | 205 lb | 93 kg |
| Heavyweight | 265 lb | 120 kg |

## Desert Force Academy

The Desert Force Academy is a 13 episode reality TV series that started airing in November 2013 on MBC Action. The series follows the lives of 16 amateur Arab MMA fighters training and fighting for a chance to hold the Desert Force title for their respective weight.
In the second season there was a big change and surprises in the fighters test, before it was only organize matches between fighters and the winner get the opportunity to participate. But in the second season they will train the fighters in military base for five days and who will survive will participate.