Ep 1: Dubai MMA - Tam Khan

Dr. Spencer Striker, Digital Media Professor at the American University in Dubai, has launched a new podcast called Dubai Wave, produced by he and a team of talented AUD students. 

For Episode 1, we are thrilled to present Tam Khan, Dubai's preeminent MMA fighter and ambassador of the sport. Khan was born in London but moved to the nearby county of Essex as a youngster. His family lived in an area with few ethnic minorities, and his mother, concerned he would be bullied, encouraged him to get involved in karate and amateur boxing for self-defense. He was also a promising soccer player and amateur body builder. However, a seminal moment came when he read a magazine article about the Gracie brothers and found himself transfixed. He and some friends ordered videos of the brothers in action and spent hours attempting to perform similar moves. Then, in 2000, Khan began studying under Daniel Burzotta, a renowned judo player who had travelled from the United Kingdom to Los Angeles to train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu with the Gracies. Khan has gone on to become Dubai's top MMA fighter and a legendary ambassador for the sport.

The concept with Dubai Wave is to look at big picture Dubai. Each episode will focus on a unique topic, such as Dubai Fitness; Dubai Social Media; Dubai Food Scene; Dubai Music, etc., with the goal to illuminate a 360-degree viewpoint of all the exciting things happening here, the gem of the Middle East. The impressive guest list to date includes the founders of two of Dubai’s most popular food blogs (Dubai Foodie Scene); the founder of Dubai’s most influential MMA gym, Tam Khan (Dubai MMA); successful entrepreneur, Anas Bukhash (Dubai Entrepreneurship); the editor of What’s On Dubai, Laura Coughlin (Dubai Magazines); and the host of Virgin Radio, Brent Black, (Dubai Radio).   Previously, Dr. Striker, with help from talented Digital Media and MBRSC students, launched a successful podcast called Digital Media & Tech in Dubai, focused on the Dubai tech industry, with eight episodes to date, featuring some of Dubai’s most exciting digital thought leaders.  

Hosted by:
Spencer Striker, PhD, Digital Media professor at the American University in Dubai
https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerstriker
& Dana Oraibi
Special Guest:
Tam Khan, MMA Fighter and Entrepreneur
https://twitter.com/Tam_Khan
Special thanks to Reina Dib and Joy Semaan of the AUD Marcom Team
https://www.instagram.com/audubai
Produced by Dana Oraibi
Edited by Karim Saad
Crewed by Lujain Mahmoud & Basma Choucri
Audio engineering by AUD Digital Media’s own Anil Mathew James