Pakistans First Female MMA Fighter Sets Records in Debut Match

Anita Karim Reflects on Her Journey to Becoming a Professional MMA Fighter

In Islamabad, Pakistan, six months into her training as a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, Anita Karim recalls an incident where she grappled with her father on their living room floor. The encounter resulted in her father being knocked unconscious in six seconds. According to Anita, she employed a rear-naked chokehold and counted the seconds until he regained consciousness.

In 2017, Anita’s parents were initially hesitant about her decision to pursue MMA, but after speaking with her over the phone, they allowed her to continue training. Her father, Nisar, had been interested in combat sports for some time and had even trained his three older sons in MMA.

Anita’s journey into MMA began when she started attending her brothers’ gym, Fight Fortress, which has since become a prominent destination for MMA training. Initially, Anita would accompany her brothers to the gym to socialize, but eventually, she began participating in light training sessions to maintain her fitness level and resume her earlier martial arts training.

Anita’s decision to pursue MMA was not taken lightly, as it meant dropping out of university. However, she felt that the sport offered a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Now, eight years later, Anita is set to compete in Pakistan’s first-ever professional women’s MMA fight on Saturday against Parisa Shamsabadi of Iran for the female championship.

Anita’s path to becoming an international MMA fighter was not without its challenges. The sport did not gain popularity in Pakistan until the early 2010s, and it wasn’t officially recognized as a sport until 2020. Despite these obstacles, Anita persevered and is now poised to make history by competing in the country’s first professional women’s MMA fight.

Anita’s family has been supportive of her endeavors, with her mother, Nelofar, initially expressing apprehensions about her daughter’s decision to pursue MMA. However, Anita remains committed to her craft, stating that she didn’t mind when her parents told her she couldn’t turn back from the road she had chosen.

Source: Al Jazeera