By Ansar Bhatti
ISLAMABAD: The Battle of Truth – Pakistan Combat Night has marked a historic breakthrough for mixed martial arts (MMA) in Pakistan, with 13 local fighters securing spots in prestigious international competitions. Eight athletes qualified for the IMMAF World Championship in Georgia, while five booked their places in the Road to BRAVE 100 and the World Championship in Bahrain.
Organised by the Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation (PAKMMAF) with the backing of the Punjab government, the event played to a packed stadium that roared with more energy than a cricket match, creating an electrifying atmosphere until the final bell.
Islamabad fighters dominated the Pakistan Open MMA Championship, as Abdul Manan, Moiz Satti, Siddiq Ullah, Ayan Hussain, Shahab Ali, and Sajid Katoshi all won their bouts to secure qualification for the IMMAF World Championship in Georgia.
The Road to BRAVE 100 card was equally dramatic. Aqib Awan outclassed Egypt’s Al-Hassan Muhammad in the flyweight division, Babar Ali defeated Azerbaijan’s Shirkhan Valili in bantamweight, while Zia Mashwani overpowered Iran’s Saman Moradmand. In the main event, Rizwan Ali toppled Egypt’s Adham Muhammad to thunderous applause. Women’s MMA also took the spotlight, as Eman Khan stunned the crowd with a first-round knockout against Tunisia’s Maha.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, though on an official trip to Japan, closely followed the event’s updates. Observers noted that her presence would have witnessed one of the most vibrant sporting atmospheres in Pakistan’s recent history. Punjab Sports Minister Faisal Khokhar declared that MMA will be a key pillar in his plan to establish Punjab as the “sports capital” of the country.
PAKMMAF President Omar Ahmed hailed MMA as more than just a sport, describing it as a cultural force with the potential to rival cricket in scale, commercial value, and national impact. He stressed that the federation’s mission is to instill discipline, resilience, and pride among the country’s youth.
Ahmed also highlighted close collaboration with Pakistan’s Special Forces, where MMA training is already enhancing unarmed combat competency. He added that further partnerships are underway to strengthen this integration.
In addition, PAKMMAF has joined hands with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to incorporate MMA into university sports, ensuring young athletes have structured pathways into the sport at the grassroots level.
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