TBILISI: Pakistan’s mixed martial arts fighter Maliha Ali has secured a remarkable victory at the IMMAF World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, defeating Russia’s Veronika Drozdova in a thrilling featherweight contest.
The 24-year-old athlete from Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, defeated Drozdova, a two-time European champion, by split decision on Tuesday. Her victory marked a major achievement for Pakistan, particularly against an opponent representing one of the best-funded MMA programmes in the world.
Maliha entered the competition with an impressive record. She is also a wushu champion and national kickboxing gold medallist. Earlier this year, she won a silver medal at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola.
The Pakistani fighter started cautiously but gradually took control of the opening round. Fighting from a southpaw stance, she closed the distance, pushed her Russian opponent against the cage and landed several clean strikes.
Maliha continued her strong performance in the second round. She secured a takedown and moved into full mount, allowing her to deliver powerful strikes from the top position.
However, the demanding pace appeared to affect her stamina in the final round. Drozdova managed to take her down and control much of the action on the ground. Despite losing the third round, Maliha’s strong performance in the first two rounds secured her the judges’ decision.
After the announcement, Maliha celebrated with her arms raised before embracing her opponent. She then went down in prostration with the Pakistani flag draped over her shoulders.
Speaking after the fight, Maliha said she followed her coach’s instructions and executed the strategy prepared after studying her opponent’s fighting style.
Pakistan MMA Federation President Omar Ahmed said the team had organised a six-week training camp and hired an international jiu-jitsu and grappling coach to address weaknesses identified during the Angola competition.
He acknowledged that Pakistan faced a significant disadvantage in resources compared with countries such as Russia. However, he praised the determination and hard work of the Pakistani fighters, saying their achievements reflected their commitment despite limited financial support.
Pakistan’s MMA campaign has previously relied on private sponsorship, with the national team reportedly competing at last year’s championships without government funding.
Maliha will now face Mexico’s Andrea Gabriela Guzman Salazar in the quarter-finals on Wednesday as she continues her pursuit of a world title.
Her twin sister, Manesha Ali, who won gold at the competition in Luanda earlier this year, will also compete in the quarter-finals against Poland’s Martyna Caruk. Both sisters are aiming to bring further success to Pakistan.
