Hayder

"They had to escape because the coaches would work in the Green Zone where the American soldiers were," Hassan explained. "But because Al-Qaeda viewed that as assisting the U.S. troops, their head coach was actually killed. They sent a hitman at him, and they killed him. My cousin was told that if he doesn't leave, he was next. He got a death threat, so he had to leave the country, too."



Because of the turmoil in Iraq, Hassan's family has not been back to their native land.



"My family had to escape out of the country while Saddam Hussein was in power," Hassan said. "They're on a list of people who aren't allowed to come into the country. If you go back to the country, they'll kill you."



- Strikeforce: Miami competitor Hayder Hassan discusses his past to MMA Junkie







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