Pakistan’s 24-year-old MMA fighter defeats two-time European champion Veronika Drozdova by split decision in Tbilisi to advance to the IMMAF World Championships quarter-finals.
TBILISI: Pakistan’s mixed martial arts fighter Maliha Ali has defeated Russia’s Veronika Drozdova by split decision at the IMMAF World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, securing a place in the quarter-finals.
The 24-year-old athlete from Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, overcame the two-time European champion in a featherweight contest on Tuesday, marking a significant achievement for Pakistan’s mixed martial arts campaign.
Maliha entered the competition with an impressive combat sports record. In addition to her MMA achievements, she is a wushu champion and national kickboxing gold medallist. Earlier this year, she also secured a silver medal at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola.
The Pakistani fighter began cautiously but gradually established control during the opening round. Competing from a southpaw stance, she closed the distance, pushed Drozdova towards the cage and landed several clean strikes.
Maliha maintained her momentum in the second round, securing a takedown and advancing into full mount. From the dominant position, she delivered several powerful strikes, strengthening her position in the contest.
However, the pace of the fight appeared to affect her stamina in the final round. Drozdova managed to take the Pakistani fighter down and control much of the action on the ground.
Despite losing the third round, Maliha’s performance in the opening two rounds proved sufficient to secure the judges’ decision.
Following the announcement, Maliha celebrated with her arms raised before embracing her opponent. She then performed a prostration with the Pakistani flag draped over her shoulders.
Speaking after the contest, Maliha said she had followed her coach’s instructions and executed the strategy developed after studying her opponent’s fighting style.
Pakistan MMA Federation President Omar Ahmed said the team had arranged a six-week training camp and brought in an international jiu-jitsu and grappling coach to address weaknesses identified during the Angola competition.
He acknowledged that Pakistan faced a considerable resource disadvantage compared with countries such as Russia. However, he praised the determination and hard work of Pakistani fighters, saying their achievements demonstrated their commitment despite limited financial support.
Pakistan’s MMA campaign has previously depended on private sponsorship, with the national team reportedly competing at last year’s championships without government funding.
Maliha will next 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 seeking to extend Pakistan’s success at the international MMA competition.
About The Author
