Hissing like a quiver of angry cobras, a group of young Afghan mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes shadow box in a Kabul club despite the uncertain future of the sport after a Taliban government ban on professional competitions. Late last month, the Taliban authorities banned the sport in professional competition calling it too "violent" and "problematic with respect to sharia", in the latest restriction based on their interpretation of Islamic law implemented since they swept to power in 2021. "Initially, when a friend told me that MMA has been banned in Afghanistan, I didn't believe but when I reached the club, all my friends were gutted, and obviously I was too," 21-year-old Khalil Rahman told AFP. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES