New Delhi
Indian wrestler-turned-MMA fighter Sangram Singh will take on Pakistan’s Mohammed Abid Ali in the Asia Champion MMA title fight in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, admitting to heightened security concerns and mounting pressure surrounding the high-profile India-Pakistan contest.
The bout has generated significant interest in Malaysia, where organisers say ticket sales have been strong, with prices ranging from 50 Malaysian ringgit (approximately Rs 1,200) to 1,500 ringgit (around Rs 42,000). They also expect strong support for Sangram from Kuala Lumpur’s sizeable Indian community, which numbers around 160,000, compared to fewer than 20,000 Pakistanis living in the city.
Strike MMA President Ismail Marzuki Bin and CEO Mohammad Hakim Bin Lukman Abdullah acknowledged that staging an India-Pakistan sporting contest comes with unique challenges. They said the fight could either elevate the profile of the event or create significant difficulties, prompting extensive security arrangements for fight week.
Sangram, who is unbeaten in his three MMA contests, admitted he is feeling the pressure ahead of the championship clash despite having previously defeated Pakistani opponents. The Sports Ministry’s Fit India Movement ambassador revealed that he had even fallen ill during preparations, although he was uncertain whether it was due to stress or a dietary issue.
The Indian fighter made an explosive start to his MMA career by defeating Pakistan’s Ali Raza Nasir in just 90 seconds at the GAMA International Fighting Championship. He also overcame another Pakistani wrestler, Mohammad Saeed, during an 18-minute wrestling bout in Dubai in February 2024.
His most recent MMA appearance saw him register a third consecutive victory by defeating French fighter Florian Caudier in Buenos Aires in just one minute and 45 seconds.
Coach Bhupesh Kumar said Sangram has reduced his weight from 87kg to 83kg for the title fight, improving both his speed and agility. He added that the fighter’s boxing, footwork and integration of wrestling techniques have all improved during an intensive training programme that includes around 100 muscle-ups each day.
Unlike his previous training camp ahead of his bout in Argentina, much of Sangram’s preparation for Sunday’s contest has taken place in Delhi. He has been training for nearly three hours daily with wrestlers and boxers at Lodhi Garden as he bids to become the first Indian to win the Asian MMA title.
Ahead of his departure, Sangram received best wishes from Sports Authority of India Deputy Director General Mayank Srivastava and Paris Paralympic gold medallist Navdeep Singh at New Delhi’s Nehru Stadium.