Pakistan’s Maliha Ali has beaten Russia’s two-time European champion Veronika Drozdova by split decision at the IMMAF World Championships — the amateur world meet of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation — in Tbilisi, Georgia. The 24-year-old from Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, won in the featherweight class at 65.8kg and moved into the quarterfinals.
How the bout unfolded
Maliha, who is also a wushu champion and a national kickboxing gold medallist, began carefully in a southpaw stance. In the opening round she pressed Drozdova against the cage and landed clean strikes, while the 19-year-old Russian answered with overhand lefts.
In the second round she improved her position further, scoring a takedown and reaching full mount, from where she landed heavy strikes from the top. In the third round she looked tired; Drozdova secured a takedown and controlled the fight on the ground. Even after losing that round, the work in the first two rounds was enough for the judges to give Maliha the decision.
After the result she celebrated with her corner, hugged her opponent, and performed a prostration of gratitude with the Pakistani flag over her shoulders. Pakistan MMA Federation president Omar Ahmed celebrated from her corner.
Preparation against a better-funded rival
Maliha entered the event after taking silver at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola earlier this year. She credited her coaches and the team’s preparation. “We worked on our opponent’s game plan, how she fights, and executed our strategy. And thankfully it worked,” she said.
Omar said the federation had run a six-week training camp and brought in an international jiu-jitsu and grappling coach to fix weaknesses seen in Angola. That work, he said, helped against a tough opponent. Russia’s squad arrived with more than 60 athletes, state backing, and one of the best-funded mixed martial arts programmes in the sport.
He stressed the gap in resources. “Compared to them, we are the most underfunded and probably the least-resourced federation competing in this event because of the sports policy in Pakistan. But still, we manage to eke out victories against such formidable opponents,” he said. He added that Pakistani fighters keep producing results despite limited money. Pakistan’s presence at last year’s championships in Tbilisi was also said to have been paid for entirely by private sponsorship, without government funding.
What comes next in Tbilisi
Maliha will face Mexico’s Andrea Gabriela Guzman Salazar in Wednesday’s quarterfinals. Her twin sister, Manesha Ali — who won gold at the IMMAF World Cup in Luanda earlier this year — meets Poland’s Martyna Caruk on the same day. Both are chasing world titles for Pakistan.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Last year: Pakistan’s IMMAF Worlds trip to Tbilisi was financed through private sponsorship, without government funding.
- Earlier this year: Maliha took silver at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola; Manesha won gold at the IMMAF World Cup in Luanda.
- Six weeks before the current championships: The federation ran a training camp and hired an international jiu-jitsu and grappling coach.
- Tbilisi, current championships: Maliha beat Drozdova by split decision and reached the quarterfinals.
- Wednesday: Maliha faces Guzman Salazar; Manesha faces Caruk.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Hunza ki Maliha Ali ne Tbilisi mein Russia ki do dafa European champion Veronika Drozdova ko split decision se hara diya. Yeh IMMAF World Championships ka featherweight match tha, aur ab woh quarterfinal mein Mexico ki Andrea Gabriela Guzman Salazar se ladegi. Us ki twin sister Manesha bhi usi din Poland ki Martyna Caruk ke khilaf ladegi. Kam wasail ke bawajood Pakistani fighters bari teams ke khilaf jeet nikaal rahe hain.
