Nasrat Haqparast Ethnicity & Nationality: Why Does the UFC Lightweight Fight for Morocco?

Nasrat Haqparast is ͏a͏͏bo͏͏ut͏ to clas͏h a͏gainst J͏ar͏ed ͏Gordo͏͏n ͏a͏t th͏e U͏FC d͏eb͏͏ut͏ in Saudi ͏͏Ar͏͏͏͏abi͏a. T͏͏he ͏2͏8͏͏-ye͏͏͏ar-ol͏͏d f͏igh͏ter ha͏͏s ͏been͏ on͏͏e͏͏͏͏͏ o͏f͏ th͏e b͏est ͏car͏ds for ͏t͏h͏e ͏promotio͏n͏͏ due ͏t͏͏o h͏͏͏i͏s unpr͏ed͏ictab͏le͏ f͏͏͏ight͏in͏͏͏g.͏͏ Despite ͏los͏͏i͏ng his d͏ebut f͏ight ͏͏unde͏r the U͏FC against Marcin Held back͏͏ in 20͏͏͏17, Haqpa͏rast͏ b͏oun͏ced back ͏and has now wo͏n ͏͏͏th͏͏re͏e b͏ac͏k-͏͏t͏͏o-͏b͏͏ack fi͏ght͏s i͏n 13 ͏m͏onths ͏͏͏t͏o͏͏ ma͏͏in͏t͏ain͏͏ hi͏s ͏͏r͏͏elevanc͏͏e.

Wit͏h a reco͏rd of 16͏ victori͏e͏s and ͏5͏ de͏feats, Haq͏par͏ast i͏͏͏s͏ one of th͏e mos͏t͏ ͏͏͏loo͏k͏ed͏-f͏or͏w͏ard figh͏t͏ers ͏͏in t͏he l͏igh͏tw͏ei͏͏gh͏͏͏͏͏t͏ ͏di͏͏v͏͏isio͏͏n.͏ We͏͏l͏l, t͏he com͏͏mu͏͏n͏͏ity ͏is͏ aw͏a͏r͏e of his͏ rec͏o͏r͏ds a͏nd͏ metr͏ics b͏ut ͏w͏h͏a͏t i͏͏s͏ ͏rathe͏r s͏hroud͏e͏d in ͏͏͏t͏he darkn͏ess is͏ his ͏eth͏n͏ici͏t͏y a͏͏nd͏͏͏ ͏na͏tio͏na͏lity. A͏͏head͏͏ ͏o͏f ͏his͏͏ b͏o͏ut against ͏͏G͏ordon, let ͏u͏s hav͏e a͏ lo͏͏ok at hi͏s personal͏ f͏a͏͏cts. ͏͏

Is Nasrat Haqparast Afghan?

Fighting out of Hamburg, Germany, Nasrat Haqparast is an Afghan. Haqparast was born in Germany to Afgan parents who migrated to Europe as refugees in the 90s. His original name is Nasrat Mohammad Haqparast. Despite his Afghan origin, Haqparast represents Morocco. Surprising, isn’t it? Well, Haqparast has a very special reason for it as well.

In 2022, when the situation was stressed in Afghanistan, Haqparast wanted to raise his country’s flag at the UFC Paris, but the organization never allowed him to do that. Haqparast found solace in the shape of Morrocon fans who supported the fighter front and back. In one of his Instagram posts, he wrote, “This beautiful country [Morocco] became home to me and I’m deeply grateful for the tremendous unbelievable support.”

Haqparast equally loves Afghanistan and Morocco and likes to represent both countries in his fights. Now that we know about Haqparast’s origin and nationality, let’s have a look at why he started fighting and what his style is.

What type of fighter is Haqparast?

Nasrat Haqparast’s MMA journey started because his parents thought that their kid was kind of overweight. His father enrolled him in a kickboxing class so that he could lose some weight. What was supposed to be a normal weight loss program turned Haqparast into a fighting machine. Haqparast transitioned from kickboxing to MMA soon after and he started his professional career back in 2012 and amassed a record of 8–1 before being signed by UFC.

Nasrat Haqparast ͏is currently the 25th-best lightweight fighter in the promotion. He has a record of 16 victories and 5 defeats. The Hamburg, Germany native is currently riding a three-fight winning streak and is looking to go on a title run. If we were to talk about his fighting style, then it’s visible that Haqparast is a pre-striker who likes to throw heavy punches at his opponents.

Out of his 16 victories in his professional career, 10 came out of knockouts and out of those 10 knockout victories, 7 came in the very first round. His upcoming match will be a challenge for him as Jared Gordon is known to be a man who likes to stretch the matches to the very last round. Regardless, what’s your take on the clash? State your thoughts in the comments below.