Sangram Singh set for historic Asia Championship MMA clash against Pakistan's Abid Ali
New Delhi [India], May 15 (ANI): Indian MMA star and Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Sangram Singh is set to create history once again as he prepares for his fourth professional MMA bout at the Malaysia Strike MMA Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In a landmark moment for Indian mixed martial arts, Sangram will become the first Indian fighter to compete for the prestigious Asia Championship title, according to a release.
The invitation for the championship was extended by Malaysia Strike MMA Championship organiser Muhammad Lukman Hakim Bin Abdullah to Sangram Singh and his coach, Bhupesh Kumar. Sangram accepted the invitation, calling it a proud moment not only for him but also for India.
Interestingly, Sangram Singh began his MMA journey against another Pakistani fighter, Ali Raza Nasir, at the GAMMA International Fighting Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia, where he secured a dominant second-round victory. Now his fourth MMA appearance will once again see him face a Pakistani opponent on the international stage.
Between these two bouts, Sangram defeated Tunisian fighter Hakim Trabelsi in the Netherlands before the fight could reach the second round.
Most recently, he created history in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by defeating French fighter Florian Caudier in just 1 minute and 45 seconds, becoming the first Indian to win an MMA fight in Argentina.
At 42, Sangram Singh continues to challenge much younger opponents, often competing against fighters 15 to 16 years younger than him.
Speaking about the upcoming challenge, Sangram said, "I may not know much about Abid Ali's age right now, but I know he is an experienced fighter who has won many MMA bouts. Representing India at the Malaysia Strike MMA Championship for the Asian Championship title is a matter of immense pride for me."
"Whenever India and Pakistan compete, emotions are naturally high because fans from both countries always want their side to win. There is pressure but there is also excitement. This is a huge challenge for me and I am preparing with complete focus," the Indian Wrestler added.
Apart from his achievements in combat sports, Sangram Singh is also the brand ambassador of the Government of India's Fit India Movement initiative under the Ministry of Sports. Before transitioning into MMA he represented India as an international level Greco-Roman wrestler and spent several years training in the national camp. He later moved into professional wrestling, acting and motivational speaking before making a successful entry into MMA.
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