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Maliha Ali stuns Russian star at MMA World ChampionshipsSports
Hunza’s Maliha Ali has beaten two-time European champion Veronika Drozdova at the MMA World Championships in Georgia, a stunning upset for Pakistan.
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Pakistan’s Maliha Ali has stunned the mixed martial arts world by defeating Russia’s Veronika Drozdova at the IMMAF World Championships in Georgia, according to reports from the tournament. Drozdova, a two-time European champion, had gone into the bout as a clear favourite in her weight division and a prospect for the world title.
The victory is a major moment for Pakistani MMA. Maliha, who comes from Hunza in Gilgit-Baltistan, was credited with exceptional striking, tactical intelligence and commanding cage control as she overcame one of the most decorated fighters in the division.
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Maliha trains alongside her twin sister Manisha Ali at BRAVE Gym in Lahore, under the guidance of Omar Ahmed, president of the Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation. Ahmed was in Maliha’s corner for the bout, and the win is being seen as a reward for years of work by the small but growing Pakistani MMA community.
The scale of the challenge makes the result all the more remarkable. Russia fielded a squad of more than 60 athletes at the championships, backed by government funding and major sponsors, while Pakistan’s team operates with far fewer resources. Against that backdrop, a win over a two-time European champion stands out as a statement result.
The IMMAF World Championships, held in Tbilisi from November 1 to 7, bring together 881 athletes competing for world titles across senior and youth divisions. The event is the biggest stage in amateur mixed martial arts and a proving ground for fighters hoping to turn professional.
For Maliha, the win over Drozdova could open doors beyond the amateur scene. Victories against established European champions tend to draw the attention of promoters and sponsors, and they give a fighter’s home federation a powerful story to build on.
The result also shines a light on Hunza, a region better known for its mountains than its martial artists, and on the growing number of young Pakistani women taking up combat sports. Maliha and her sister have become role models for girls who want to compete at the highest level, showing that talent from smaller towns can reach world stages.
Details such as Maliha’s weight class and the method of victory were not stated in the initial reports, but the scale of the upset is clear: a Pakistani fighter has beaten a favourite tipped for world honours. Her team and supporters will now hope she can carry the momentum deeper into the tournament.
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