I recently read a book about Khalid bin al walid and how good of a combatant he was as well as a military commander. In many of his battles the book proclaimed that Arab champions and Roman or Persian champions would fight one on one before the battle actually started. I guess the purpose of the duels were to boost morale, but did this actually happen? I know there were skirmishes before battle but not one man vs one man as both armies watched.
Did Khalid and Abu Ubaidah actually kill 10 men in a row in duels at the battle of Yarmouk? Or is this a case of exagertation to glorify the victors?
Are there any other duelers that were really successful like Khalid?
Duels were a part of the war in those days,it was a sort of introduction to the war and both sides would send 3 champion fighters or whatever number is agreed.In the first war that the Muslims fought 3 fighters were chosen but the Quraish enemy asked the Prophet to send 3 other fighters who were his immediate family so his uncle Hamza and two cousins Ali and Ubayda went forward and won their duels but Ubayda was wounded and Ali killed his opponent for him and then took Ubayda back to the Muslim ranks where he died of his wounds shortly afterwards.
Another thing to mention is that in Islam showing off or pride of any kind is prohibited the only time it is acceptable is in the battlefield against an enemy,so many of the elite champion fighters in the Muslim army used to distinguish themselves by wearing a red or colourful headscarf/turban to attract opposition fighters and champions in the midst of the battle.