UFCAbdul-Kareem Al-Selwady Record: 16-4-0
LightweightRecord16-4-0
Age31
DivisionLightweight · #61
Combat Edge Elo1685
Last fightMar 21 2026
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady has a 16-4-0 professional record and is 31 years old in the Lightweight division, representing Fortis MMA. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jun 17, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady bio
Personal background
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady is a lightweight competing in the UFC, a Palestinian-American fighter widely known as the "Pride of Palestine." Born on April 10, 1995, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he moved to Jordan as a teenager before later settling in the Dallas area, and he fights with the Palestinian flag firmly in mind — his family traces back to the village of Silwad near Ramallah. He trains at the respected Fortis MMA gym under head coach Sayif Saud and stands 5'7" with a 69-inch reach. Al-Selwady built his foundation in striking before rounding out his game, collecting Muay Thai and grappling medals on his way up and carrying a 16–4 professional record into the Octagon.
Path to the UFC
Al-Selwady debuted as a professional in 2012 as a teenager fighting on the Middle Eastern circuit, where he became a standout for the Desert Force promotion in Jordan. He went on to capture the Desert Force featherweight title, then moved to the Bahrain-based BRAVE CF, where he won the lightweight championship and became enough of a regional star to be the subject of a BBC documentary. After relocating his career to the United States and adding the Fury FC lightweight title, he earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in August 2023.
Making his name in BRAVE CF
The signature win of Al-Selwady's regional run came in November 2018 at BRAVE CF 18, where he defeated the highly regarded Lucas Martins — a 20-win veteran — by first-round stoppage. It was the kind of result that marked him as more than a local favorite. His climb wasn't without adversity, as he absorbed a pair of knockout losses in 2019 that forced him to regroup, but he answered them with a long winning streak that rebuilt his stock on American soil.
Earning the Octagon
Al-Selwady's contract-clinching night came at Contender Series 2023, where he outpointed England's unbeaten George Hardwick over three rounds by unanimous decision. Handing a previously perfect prospect his first loss was a statement, and it delivered the UFC deal he had chased across three continents.
UFC run
Al-Selwady's promotional debut in March 2024 was a difficult one: Loik Radzhabov stopped him with punches in the third round. He answered the setback in his next Octagon outing, returning in March 2026 to outwork Shaqueme Rock over three rounds for a unanimous-decision win that put him back in the lightweight mix.
Fighting style
Al-Selwady is a striker first, with eight of his 16 wins by knockout and a finish rate around 63 percent, but he is far from one-dimensional — he has added two submission wins and shown the cardio to win five-round regional title fights and grind out UFC decisions. His Muay Thai and grappling credentials give him real flexibility, letting him pick where a fight happens. The honest weakness on his ledger is durability against the hardest hitters: all four of his career losses have come by knockout or TKO, meaning the same aggressive, in-the-pocket style that produces his finishes can leave him exposed to power punchers.
Career highlights
- Multi-promotion champion — held the Desert Force featherweight, BRAVE CF lightweight, and Fury FC lightweight titles across his regional career.
- Contender Series contract — beat unbeaten prospect George Hardwick by unanimous decision in 2023 to reach the UFC.
- UFC bounce-back — rebounded from a debut loss to defeat Shaqueme Rock by decision in 2026, fighting as the "Pride of Palestine."
Career snapshot
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1685Good ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#493
Lightweight#61of 201 active
Peak1690
Last move+16
Opponent quality1569avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1690 Elo after defeating George Hardwick (2023-08-15)
Similar Elo in Lightweight
Recent Elo history
WinShaqueme Rock2026-03-21 | Decision (unanimous)+16LossLoik Radzhabov2024-03-02 | KO/TKO-21WinGeorge Hardwick2023-08-15 | Decision (Unanimous)+17WinMichael Murphy2023-02-17 | Decision (Unanimous)+9WinChris Pecero2022-09-23 | TKO (Submission to Punches)+9Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady quick answers
What is Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's record?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's professional MMA record is 16-4-0.
How old is Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady is 31 years old.
What weight class is Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady fights at Lightweight in UFC.
How tall is Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady is 5'7" tall with a 69" reach.
How much does Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady weigh?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady competes at Lightweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 155 lbs.
What is Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's Combat Edge Elo?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's Combat Edge Elo is 1685, with a peak Elo of 1690.
How strong is Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's recent opposition?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1569 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's last fight?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's latest tracked pro fight was against Shaqueme Rock at UFC Fight Night on Mar 21 2026.
What is Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's recent form?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's recent tracked pro form is W-L-W-W-W over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady usually win?
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady's 16 recorded wins include 8 knockouts, 2 submissions, and 6 decisions, with 63% ending before the final bell.
8Wins by knockout
2Wins by submission
6Wins by decision
4Loss by knockout
0Loss by submission
0Loss by decision
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady stats
Record : 16 / 4 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
4.14Fighter3.07Division average
Significant striking accuracy
35%Fighter43%Division average
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
3.60Fighter3.89Division average
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
59%Fighter53%Division average
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
2.32Fighter1.59Division average
Takedown accuracy
31%Fighter35%Division average
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
20%Fighter51%Division average
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0Fighter0.66Division average
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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