Indian MMA star Sangram Singh is set to compete for the Asia Champion title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, becoming the first Indian fighter to challenge for the honour. Singh will face Pakistan’s Abid Ali in his fourth professional MMA bout on Sunday, July 19.
The contest, organised under the Malaysia Strike MMA Championship, marks another significant milestone in Singh’s growing MMA career. The official invitation was extended by championship organiser Muhammad Lukman Hakim bin Abdullah to Singh and his coach, Bhupesh Kumar, and was subsequently accepted by the Indian fighter.
According to the invitation, Singh’s participation would be considered a matter of honour for both himself and India.
Singh, who serves as the brand ambassador for the Ministry of Sports’ Fit India Movement, expressed excitement over the upcoming contest, particularly because his MMA journey also began against a Pakistani opponent. In his debut professional MMA bout in Tbilisi, Georgia, Singh defeated Ali Raza Naseer in the second round at the GAMA International Fighting Championship.
Since then, the 42-year-old has continued to build momentum in the sport. He defeated Tunisian fighter Hakim Trabelsi in the Netherlands before the fight could reach the second round. More recently, Singh made history in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by defeating Florian Caudier in just one minute and 45 seconds, becoming the first Indian to register a professional MMA victory in Argentina.
Singh noted that many of his opponents have been significantly younger than him, with some as much as 16 years his junior. Speaking about his upcoming rival, he admitted he was unaware of Abid Ali’s exact age but described him as an experienced fighter with several MMA victories to his name.
The Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion also confirmed that he would compete in the 83 to 89-kilogram weight category for the Kuala Lumpur bout.
Reflecting on the high-profile India-Pakistan contest, Singh acknowledged feeling some pressure ahead of the fight, given the intense sporting rivalry between the two nations. However, he added that the challenge also excites him.
He expressed confidence that his journey and upcoming bout would inspire young athletes to pursue their own ambitions, adding that he would feel immensely gratified if even one individual succeeded because of that inspiration.
Before transitioning to MMA, Singh enjoyed a distinguished career as an international-level Greco-Roman wrestler and trained extensively at the national camp. He later moved into professional wrestling before reinventing himself as an actor and motivational speaker.
Now recognised as a sporting icon for MMA in India, Singh also holds the distinction of being a Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion and a Fit India Icon as he prepares to enter the cage for his fourth professional MMA appearance.