Mohammed Hijab – Pre-Fight Interview – Power of Thikr
AI: Summary ©
The host of a virtual fight discusses the weight and emotions of a professional heavyweight match, emphasizing the importance of not cutting oneself or one's opponent. The host also talks about the importance of not being too afraid of the crowd and mentions a ring walk and cage walk. The host concludes by thanking attendees and saying goodbye.
AI: Summary ©
As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
We are here in the middle of nowhere.
What's going on, Mr. Higab?
Tell us.
Oh, we've got the fight coming up, the
pay-per-view.
What fight?
The MMA, professional MMA fight that's going to
happen between me and a very stiff and
competent opponent who is going to be gaining
tomorrow.
So this is the weigh-in, actually.
We've got an official weigh-in and we've
got a ceremonial weigh-in.
By now I'm going to do the official
one.
So what weight are you fighting at, then?
Middleweight?
That's the good thing.
To be honest, that is the good thing
about being a heavyweight.
Because I don't see you cut any weight
today.
Yesterday we had that big Afghani dinner.
This morning I had a good breakfast.
I feel good.
I feel good for this fight.
I think, to be honest, I'm just talking
about this group and stuff, about the range
of emotions people usually feel before a fight
like this.
And this is a professional fight, which means
there's going to be kicks, there's going to
be elbows, there's going to be knees.
Everything is allowed.
And it's quite unusual, I think, that when
you're a Muslim and you're a believer, even
me, I've never had a professional MMA fight
before.
It's the first time doing it.
But I think it, especially when you do
Quran, for example, I was doing a bit
of muraja yesterday, going through with Quran, doing
dhikr.
It just makes you relaxed, fully relaxed.
And it makes you feel confident.
So I'm waiting for this weigh-in.
I'm going in front of the cameras.
That's one thing I'm maybe a little bit
nervous about.
You?
In front of the cameras?
No, you know, the body might not look
good.
I might have to do a gym session
before I get in front of the scales.
You always keep your shirt on.
Huh?
Keep your shirt on.
No, no, no.
I'll take it off just to show the
opponent.
To show the opponent what I've got to,
I'm only kidding.
No, no, no, it'll be fine.
Because you're a debater and you come from
an academic background.
How does it compare to debating?
Are there any transferable skills?
I think it's quite similar.
The only difference is, like for me as
a debater, I actually feel a lot more
nervous.
Especially if it's a high stakes debate because
in that context, I'm not representing myself.
In this case, I'm representing myself.
It's not religion on the line.
It's not like, you know, political position on
the line.
This is just about, it's me versus another
opponent.
You know what I mean?
So when the stakes are higher, now I've
got like a reputation as a debater.
And so, if I lose a debate, people
are counting on me.
Do you know what I mean?
Whereas if, so I used to have quite
a lot of anxiety before big debates.
And the first time I'd done a big
movie, I had a lot of anxiety before
that.
Even with William Lane Craig, because he was
such a big figure in the academic field.
And, you know, like I had read all
his books and stuff.
I actually felt nervous.
But on that day, I felt quite nervous.
On this occasion, it's not the same.
Because I feel quite free.
That the bar of expectations are lowered.
And I can be quite liberating.
I can just be as free as I
want in the cage.
Excellent talk.
How can the viewers at home watch this
fight?
The pay-per-view is going to be,
so you're going to go to my, the
link below.
Let's just say the link below.
That's the easiest way to do it.
The link below.
Click the link below.
And it's only 7.99. Okay.
It's going to be a very entertaining evening.
It's going to be a ring walk, cage
walk.
Call it what you want.
I'm going to enjoy that moment.
Okay.
We've even logistically made it so that the
ring walk is going to be something quite
nice.
You know, I've come out with the people.
You know, it's going to be very, very
enjoyable.
The people there.
I've been walking around Coventry.
It seems like Coventry is pro-Mohammed Hijab.
It seems like there's going to be a
home field advantage here.
Absolutely.
It does feel like that.
I'm going to go into this arena or
this venue.
It's going to be a phenomenal atmosphere.
Fantastic.
The people are going to be roaring and
this and that.
How would you want to miss something like
that?
You know what I mean?
Coming into the cage.
You've got this towering figure, 6 foot 7
inches tall.
Are you talking about your opponent?
This formidable man.
You know, this beast of an individual.
You know, this influential guy in front of
you.
What's going to happen?
The crowd is on his side.
The people are on his side.
The people are roaring.
He's jabbed that story.
Anything that I throw aside for him to
finish.
We'll see what happens.
I don't want to say too much here.
We don't want to say too much here.
We'll see what happens.
But I think people are going to be
enjoying this event.
You know, at home or in person.
And I think you'd really regret it if
you don't buy this pay-per-view.
We'll conclude there.
Thank you very much for joining us.
Thank you.
See you next time.