Pakistan’s Maliha Ali has beaten Russia’s Veronika Drozdova by split decision in the featherweight (65.8kg) division at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Tuesday.
Russia sent more than 60 athletes to the amateur mixed martial arts event. Its programme has government backing and is one of the best-funded in the sport. Drozdova, 19, is a two-time European champion.
Maliha, 24, is a resident of Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan. She is also a wushu champion and a national kickboxing gold medallist. She arrived in Tbilisi after winning silver at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola earlier this year.
Fighting from a southpaw stance, Maliha started cautiously in the first round. She then closed the distance, pinned Drozdova against the cage and landed clean strikes, although the Russian connected with a couple of overhand lefts.
Maliha controlled the second round. She took Drozdova down, moved into full mount and landed heavy blows from the top. She tired in the third round, however, and Drozdova took her to the ground and controlled the action. The Russian won that round, but the judges gave the first two to Maliha.
Maliha faces Mexico’s Andrea Gabriela Guzman Salazar in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. Her twin sister Manesha, who won gold in Luanda earlier this year, fights Poland’s Martyna Caruk on the same day. Both are chasing world titles.
