LAHORE: Twin sisters Manesha Ali and Maliha Ali, youth prospect Aurangzeb Ahmed and former national wrestling champion Rashid Gujjar delivered dominant performances as the Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation staged the inaugural PAKMMAF ACTIVIT Contender Series at Fight HQ in Lahore.
The event featured 12 elite contests and brought together many of Pakistan’s leading mixed martial artists as part of preparations for upcoming IMMAF World Championship campaigns.
According to the federation, the Contender Series has been designed to bridge the gap between domestic competition and the international stage by giving athletes consistent, high-level competition similar to international events.
Former national MMA champion Manesha Ali produced the standout performance of the evening, earning a dominant unanimous decision victory over Karachi’s Imama and winning the Fight of the Night award.
Representing Brave Gym and hailing from Hunza, Manesha controlled all three rounds, displaying composure, technical ability and the championship pedigree that has made her one of Pakistan’s leading female mixed martial artists.
Her twin sister Maliha Ali, also from Hunza and representing Brave Gym, completed a perfect night for the family by defeating Quetta’s Sadia. Maliha, a Wushu champion and national kickboxing gold medallist, conceded around five kilograms in weight to her opponent but showed skill, determination and resilience throughout the contest.
Former national wrestling champion Rashid Gujjar also claimed an important win, defeating Qurban Khan in a highly anticipated rematch. The victory avenged Gujjar’s defeat to Khan in the National Championship final and underlined his progress since moving from wrestling to mixed martial arts.
One of the most exciting moments of the evening came when Aurangzeb Ahmed, regarded as one of Pakistan’s brightest young MMA talents, registered an emphatic knockout victory. He is preparing to represent Pakistan at the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi this August.
The victories are seen as significant for Pakistan’s international MMA plans. Maliha Ali, Manesha Ali and Rashid Gujjar will now intensify preparations for the IMMAF World Championships in Georgia this November, while Aurangzeb Ahmed will focus on the youth world event in Abu Dhabi.
Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb attended the event as chief guest and praised the federation’s efforts to promote mixed martial arts among young people in Pakistan.
She said the rapid growth of MMA was creating positive role models for the youth while encouraging healthier lifestyles and stronger communities. She added that participation in sport helps keep young people away from drugs, crime and other negative influences, improves mental health, reduces excessive screen time and instils discipline, resilience and strong character.
She also commended the Pakistan MMA Federation for creating opportunities that empower young athletes to pursue their dreams through sport.
PAKMMAF President Omar Ahmed said the federation’s vision went beyond winning medals at international events.
“Success isn’t measured solely by medals. Success is building a complete athlete development pathway that creates sustainable opportunities for every aspiring mixed martial artist in Pakistan. Our pathway begins in schools and colleges, progresses through White Collar MMA, the Contender Series and the Pakistan Open before preparing athletes for IMMAF World Championships and ultimately professional organisations. We are building world champions while creating opportunities for Pakistani athletes to sign with leading international promotions such as BRAVE CF, UAE Warriors and ACA. Pakistan MMA is building a complete ecosystem for the sport, not simply organising events,” he said.
Ahmed also thanked the federation’s partners for supporting the growth of mixed martial arts in Pakistan.
“A special thank you to ACTIVIT and Rd. Rizwan Aftab Ahmed for once again believing in Pakistani MMA. Their continued support allows our athletes to compete internationally and proudly raise the Pakistan flag on the world stage,” he said.
The inaugural PAKMMAF ACTIVIT Contender Series marked another step in the federation’s long-term athlete development strategy, providing Pakistan’s top competitors with high-performance experience and strengthening the country’s pathway to international competition.
