Maliha Ali makes history as first Pakistani woman to reach IMMAF world final

Pakistan’s Maliha Ali has reached the final of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championships in Georgia, becoming the first Pakistani woman to reach the final of a global mixed martial arts competition.

Maliha secured her place in the final after defeating Mexico’s Andrea Gabriela Guzman Salazar in the semi-final. Salazar is a Pan-American champion and World Championship silver medallist.

The victory marks a historic milestone for Pakistan in women’s mixed martial arts, with Maliha now one win away from a world title.

Earlier in the tournament, the 24-year-old fighter from Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, overcame Russia’s Veronika Drozdova, a two-time European champion, in a featherweight (65.8kg) bout to reach the quarter-finals.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Pakistan MMA Federation (@pakmmafederation)

Maliha edged the 19-year-old Russian by split decision. A wushu champion and national kickboxing gold medallist, she entered the championships after winning silver at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola earlier this year.

Victory over Russian champion

Fighting from a southpaw stance, Maliha began cautiously before taking the fight to Drozdova against the cage and landing clean strikes in the opening round.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Commando Bangz (@commando.bangz)

She raised her intensity in the second round, securing a takedown and moving into full mount, from where she landed several blows.

Drozdova took the initiative in the final round, taking Maliha down and controlling much of the action on the ground. However, Maliha’s work in the first two rounds proved decisive, with the judges awarding her the bout by split decision.

Maliha reached the final despite carrying an injury sustained in her previous bout against Drozdova.