Mard o mard

Mard ō mard (Middle Persian; literally "man to man") was an ancient Iranian tradition of single combat, the Sasanian Empire being most known for using it. During a battle, the Sasanian troops would use taunts and war cries to provoke the enemy into a single duel with a Sasanian champion. The tradition meant much to the Sasanians—in 421, during the Roman–Sasanian War of 421–422, a champion of Bahram V (r. 420–438) was in a single duel killed by a Roman soldier, which made Bahram V accept the war as lost and make peace with the Romans.

Single combats have been narrated in Shahnama of Ferdowsi, a notable example being those of the story of Davazdah Rokh (Twelve Combats).