Martial Arts - Int News - Sport bulletin

Martial Arts - Int News

MARTIAL ARTS - Int News 01 Nov, 2026

MMA World Championships: Pakistani athletes reach Georgia

Lahore (Sports News): More than 1,000 elite MMA fighters from over 70 countries are gathering in Tbilisi, Georgia, for the prestigious IMMAF World Championships, taking place from November 1 to 7. Pakistan has sent a formidable seven-member national contingent, representing the country’s diverse sporting talent from Karachi, Lahore, Rawalakot, Poonch and Hunza in Gilgit-Baltistan.The squad includes Shayan Mehdi (Karachi – Strawweight 52.2kg), Shams Ur Rehman (Karachi – Bantamweight 61.2kg), Syed M Qaim Abass (Lahore – Super Lightweight 74.8kg), Saria Khan (Rawalakot/Poonch – Atomweight 47.6kg), Maliha Ali (Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan Featherweight 65.8kg), Manisha Ali (Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan – Lightweight 70.3kg) and Hamood Ali Wajid (Lahore – Junior Super Lightweight 74.8kg).

MARTIAL ARTS - Int News 12 Sep, 2026

Mixed Martial Arts included in Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026

Islamabad (SBR): Mixed Martial Arts sport has been included in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 for the first time, and Pakistan has become an official participant in this historic event.On this occasion, the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA) has selected Pakistan’s top-ranked and experienced MMA referee, Abu Huraira, as an International Technical Official (ITO)/Referee for the MMA competitions at the Asian Games. This selection is not only an honor for Pakistan but also international recognition of the standards and capabilities of the country’s MMA refereeing.At the same historic event, Asim Khan will represent Pakistan as the first Pakistani MMA athlete at the Asian Games, while Dilawar Khan Sanan will serve as Team Official for the Pakistan MMA team.PMMAF President Zulfiqar Ali expressed pleasure over Pakistan’s historic participation in the Asian Games and particularly over Abu Huraira’s selection as an official, offering him heartfelt congratulations and best wishes.He said: “The inclusion of MMA in the Asian Games and Pakistan’s representation as both athlete and official is a historic achievement for Pakistani mixed martial arts. This honor will open new avenues for Pakistan’s young MMA athletes and officials.” He prayed for the success of Abu Huraira, Asim Khan, and Dilawar Khan Sanan.

MARTIAL ARTS - Int News 08 Aug, 2026

Asian Open Championships G-II: Hamza Omar Saeed earns gold medal

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: A rising martial arts athlete, Hamza Omar has won the gold medal for Pakistan in the 8th Asian Taekwondo Open Championships (Grade 2), recently held in Indonesia. He outclassed Richard Hanusovski from Slovenia in the final in two consecutive rounds to win the top honour.According to an official of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF), the international championship was held from 3 to 5 August 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Hamza Omar Saeed delivered an excellent performance in the Men’s +87 kg category, winning the gold medal and raising Pakistan’s flag high.Hamza Omar performance:Round of 16: Hamza Omar beat Manjeet Singh Rathore of IndiaQuarterfinal: Humza Omar beat Aiden Staley of AustraliaSemifinal: Hamza Omar beat Izar Fadihullah of IndonesiaFinal: Hamza Omar beat Richard Hanusovski of SloveniaThe President, officials, coaches, and Taekwondo community of the Pakistan Taekwondo Federation have extended their heartfelt congratulations to Hamza Omar Saeed, the national coaching staff, and his family on this historic achievement.

MARTIAL ARTS - Int News 06 Dec, 2025

Pakistan MMA players leave for Lebanon for international fixture

Lahore (Sports News): Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation (PAKMMAF) is set to compete at the IMMAF Asian Championships in Lebanon, where nearly 400 athletes from 18 countries will participate in one of the continent’s foremost combat-sports tournaments. Pakistan will be represented by two world medalists — Shahab Ali and Abdul Manan — both of whom secured podium finishes at the 2025 IMMAF World Championship in Georgia, the largest MMA event in the world.The delegation will also include the team manager and PAKMMAF President Omar Ahmed, who serves on the Executive Board of the IMMAF Asian Federation. Pakistan currently holds the No. 3 ranking in Asia, a notable achievement given the region’s dominance in global mixed martial arts.In a transformational move for Pakistan’s MMA future, PAKMMAF recently signed a three-year strategic partnership with BRAVE Combat Federation, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The agreement will bring international BRAVE CF events to Pakistan and provide Pakistani fighters direct access to one of the world’s most powerful MMA platforms. The venture represents a major step in sports diplomacy and positions MMA to develop domestic commercial value similar to the success of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).PAKMMAF President Omar Ahmed highlighted the broader opportunity MMA presents to young athletes: "Mixed martial arts offers Pakistani athletes a direct pathway to international careers. What we have achieved with extremely limited resources proves the enormous untapped potential of this sport.”

MARTIAL ARTS - Int News 31 Aug, 2025

Asian MMA Championship: Mohammad Saqib Wins U18 Silver medal

Karachi (PR) Pakistan athletes produced an outstanding performance at the AMMA Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championship 2025 in Manama, Bahrain, where athletes showcased remarkable skill, determination, and sportsmanship on one of Asia’s biggest martial arts stages. On the final day of the championship, Pakistan’s Mohammad Saqib secured a silver medal in the Men’s U18 – 55kg category.This achievement is especially significant as Saqib had already made headlines last year by becoming the World Champion 2024 in the same category. His transition from the world stage to the Asian level demanded greater hard work, discipline, and focus — and his Silver Medal reflects his dedication, growth, and rising stature in international MMA.Other Notable PerformancesMohammad Umar – Silver Medal (Men’s U16 – 60kg Category)Amin Ullah – Bronze Medal (Men’s U18 – 60kg Category)In total, Team Pakistan secured 3 medals: 2 Silver and 1 Bronze, competing against over 150 athletes from 19 countries.Zulfiqar Ali, President PMMAF said: “These medals are not just victories — they are proof that Pakistani MMA athletes are of world-class caliber. We are immensely proud of our fighters, coaches, and support staff whose tireless efforts — along with the invaluable support of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) — made this possible. This championship marks a defining moment in the rise of MMA in Pakistan. The courage, dedication, and talent of our youth are truly commendable. For the past five years, Pakistan has consistently held a strong international ranking, and we remain committed to taking this sport to even greater height.

MARTIAL ARTS - Int News 24 Aug, 2025

Two Pakistani to participate in OCA–AMMA Referee & Coaches Development Program

Islamabad (Sports Report): Isra Waseem and Mozzam Ali will participate in the 1st Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) – Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA) Development Program for Coaches and Referees, which will be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain from August 25 t0 27, 2025.According to an official, the program brings together 57 coaches and 51 referees from 30 National Olympic Committees, under the guidance of 11 expert instructors, and represents a significant step forward in the growth and professionalization of Mixed Martial Arts across Asia.Dr. Isra Waseem, Pakistan’s first qualified female international MMA referee, has been selected to attend the International Referee Development Course. Also, Mozzam Ali, a dedicated MMA coach, has been selected to participate in the International Coaches Development Course.Zulfiqar Ali, President PMMAF said: “We are deeply grateful to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) for supporting our referees and coaches to participate in this important program. This is not only a major achievement for MMA in Pakistan but also lays the foundation for the sport’s future growth. Together, we will continue to work for the advancement of MMA in our country.”

MARTIAL ARTS - Int News 03 Dec, 2023

Pakistan MMA Team to participate in World MMA Championship

Sports Bulletin ReportQUETTA: President, Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation (PMMAF), Zulfiqar Ali has announced that Pakistani athletes would take part in the World MMA Championship, scheduled to be held from December 6 to 10, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand.“Asim Khan and Shahzaib also would represent the country in the event. Initially, we had planned to send seven males and as many female athletes to participate in the championship but due to scarcity of funds. We decided to send only four athletes now including Shahzaib, Asim Khan, Dawood Jan, and Abdul Rehman along with team coach Imran Qasim, “he added.

MARTIAL ARTS - Int News 27 Jul, 2023

MFN 12 sees exponential growth in watch time on Disney+Hotstar

Sports Bulletin ReportNew Delhi (India): Matrix Fight Night (MFN), India's biggest mixed-martial arts promotion, has already garnered massive reputation across the globe since its inception in 2019. Matrix Fight Night 12 which was held at the Noida Indoor Stadium on July 1st featuring MFN's first-ever all-female main event, saw exponential growth from the previous edition.MFN 12 featured Puja Tomar successfully defending her Strawweight Championship belt against Russia's Anastasia Feofanova, winning the intense main event bout via TKO due to corner stoppage after Anatasia broke her forearm. On the same show, 11 other thrilling fights enthralled the 9000-strong Noida crowd at the stadium that came to witness the live action.Moreover, the audience watching the show on Disney+Hotstar from the comfort of their homes, registered a significant increase of nearly 300 percent in watch time.Speaking on the success of the show, MFN co-founder Ms Ayesha Shroff said, "We always believed that India has the right set of audience to consume Mixed-martial arts and we are grateful for the tremendous response from our fans for MFN 12. This is just the beginning, and we are ready to create more magic in our upcoming editions this year."Krishna Shroff added, "The success of MFN 12 is a testament to the fact that our Indian audience are invested in the stories of our fighters, and are equally eager to watch the women fighters take centerstage. We are delighted with the response and we hope the MFN success stories continue in the editions to come."

MARTIAL ARTS - Int News 22 Jul, 2023

World Combat Games 2023: Countdown starts 90 days to go

Over 2,500 global competitors to gather in Riyadh, to showcase skills in 16 martial arts disciplinesSports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): The Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games official tournament is set to kick-off in 90 days (October 20 to 30, 2023) the multi-sport event of mixed martial arts, is the first of its kind to be held in the Middle East.Taking place at the Sports City King Saud University in Riyadh, over 2,500 athletes from more than 80 countries will take part in the World Combat Games which is already gathering strong interest from the international combat sports community.The Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games promises to be a spectacular showcase of skill and breathtaking courage. Fans around the world will be treated to 10 days of fierce competition with athletes demonstrating their prowess across 16 disciplines. The Riyadh 2023 tournament includes Aikido, Arm-wrestling, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Jujitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Sambo, Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, and Wushu.Not only will spectators be able to watch the action across the stadium, fans will be able to mingle and soak up the atmosphere in the Cultural Pavilion and Square between competitions. Keen to encourage sport at grassroots level, young fans will have the opportunity to strike a pose and try their hand, with trainers and competitors from the International Federations located in the exhibition zone.With only 90 days to go until the Championship opens in Riyadh, momentum is gathering as fight fans eagerly await to witness a contest like no other at the 2023 Riyadh World Combat Games.

MARTIAL ARTS - Int News 07 Jun, 2023

Two title bouts to take place in Noida Indoor Stadium on July 1

MMA fighter Angad Bisht to defend Flyweight title against Brazil's Hugo PaivaSports Bulletin ReportNew Delhi (India):-Mixed Martial Art (MMA) fighter Angad Bisht will defend his Flyweight title against Brazil's Hugo Paiva, as the India's biggest mixed-martial arts promotion, Matrix Fight Night, will return to the National Capital Region (NCR) once again with MFN 12 set to take place on July 1st at the Noida Indoor Stadium, Sector 21. It is pertinent to mention here that Bisht defeated Egypt's Mohamed Gamal for the Flyweight title at MFN 10 in November 2022. Also, India's highest-ranked female MMA fighter Puja Tomar will also defend her Strawweight title against Russia's Anastasia Feofanova. MMA fighter, Angad Bisht said:"I am ready for the fight as always. I have trained well over the past few months and retaining the prestigious MFN title has been my goal ever since the match-up was announced. I will give my all once again, but it will be a good fight against Brazil's Hugo Paiva, who is a tremendously skilled fighter as well. But I will have a few tricks up my sleeve." Brazil's Hugo Paiva said:"I am excited to come to India to win the MFN title. I have a strong opponent to face who has been unbeaten in his past couple of fights. But I have trained well with my team and we are confident that we will make an impact. My aim is not only to win the title, but also to entertain the fans." Ayesha Shroff, Co-Founder MFN, said:"Absolutely thrilled to share this exciting card with you all! MFN is poised for the next chapter and this is a fantastic step towards that announcement. Being my first time playing Matchmaker, I had a blast with this one. The fight card makes or breaks your show because at the end of the day, your fighters are the stars. They are the main characters people come to see. So there is a lot of expectation and pressure riding on them to put on exciting fights and perform.”“My job is to make that slightly easier and to help take the show a notch higher by putting together the best matchups between fighters who have the most interesting stylistic matchups, specifically. With 2 championship belts on the line, some huge names from the Indian combat world, and massive international talent from across the globe, MFN 12 promises to be next level." MATRIX FIGHT NIGHT 12 CARD: PRELIMS: LIGHTWEIGHT: Gurtej Singh (IND) vs Edukondal Rao (IND) STRAWWEIGHT: Sonam Zomba (IND) vs Jojo Rajkumari (IND) FEATHERWEIGHT: Dushyant Singh (IND) vs Anthony Syiem (IND) FLYWEIGHT: Aminder Bisht (IND) vs Akash (IND) MAIN CARD: BANTAMWEIGHT: Chungreng Koren (IND) vs Chaitanya Gavali (IND) FEATHERWEIGHT: Rahul Thapa (IND) vs Avizo Lanamai (IND) FEATHERWEIGHT: Shyamanand (IND) vs Mido Mohamed (EGY) LIGHTWEIGHT: Neeraj Panghal (IND) vs Digamber Singh Rawat (IND) LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: Pawan Maan (IND) vs Sandeep Dahiya (IND) FEATHERWEIGHT: Mochamed Machaev (AT) vs Khabibullo Azizov (TJ) TITLE FIGHTS: STRAWWEIGHT: Puja Tomar (IND) vs Anastasia Feofanova (RU) - Co Main Event FLYWEIGHT: Angad Bisht (IND) vs Hugo Paiva (BRA) - Main Event