Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan will be experimenting with a new ranking and development system over the next year. If successful we will be rolling out an enforcing this system from the bottom up by next year and making any changes based on feedback from the MMA community. The ranking and development system will identify and appropriately place fighters in respective skill level divisions. It will build fighters up, step by step so that when they are fighting in professional bouts, they have not only earned that spot but can show those skills to the world and be confident that they will be at international standards. The development system is as follows.

The new student/fighter who wishes to compete must compete in first 3 BJJ tournaments and 3 striking matches (they can be boxing and/or kickboxing). Previous experience in such competitions outside of the PAKMMA network (like Shaheen Smokers, VCL, and PFC) will be considered.  Once the athlete has competed in 3 grappling and 3 striking matches he can move on to the next level.  The fighter who has not completed with requirement will be known as a NOVICE fighter.

Additional requirements for this level; for the grappling matches, the athlete must advance at least ONCE. If he loses all his matches, he must re-enter a grappling tournament until he advances at least one match.

For the striking matches, the fighter must win at least one match in order to advance. All striking matches will be conducted with full protective equipment and rounds will not be longer than 3 minutes.

Once a fighter has passed these requirements he will be then known as a JUNIOR fighter. To move on to the next level the athlete must fulfill the following requirements.  He must win at least one match under MMA rules with full protective equipment, not exceeding three minutes for the round.  Once completed the fighter will be known as an AMATEUR fighter.

This is the final step before being a professional fighter and having it be MANDATORY to be paid by your promotion and to be considered for international competition. The AMATEUR fighter must fight at least three times and win at least 2 matches before moving on. These matches will take place with no extra protective equipment, with competition MMA gloves under full MMA rules minus, elbows and knees to the face.  Once this phase has been completed, the fighter may come under for REVIEW by PAKMMA to be considered a PROFESSIONAL FIGHTER or not. When you are a professional fighter you will be issued a Fighters License by PAKMMA to identify yourself as a PRO MMA fighter.

This system is to be experimented with over the next year, so don’t expect PRO FIGHTER cards to start being handed out to guys already on the scene. It will take some time for the database to be created and fighters identified. Be patient, and help out. Good things come to those who wait.

5 years ago, I saw myself leaving the USA to come to Asia and start my future, build my name and make my riches. Well, the riches sure haven’t happened but I see where my life is going a bit more clearly now and I have definitely made a name for myself on the Asian MMA scene.

5 years ago, I had just graduated from George Mason University. I was probably finishing my last final exam 5 years from today and 4 days after that I was set to fly to Thailand. I wasn’t even going to attend my graduation, it wasn’t important to me. For the past 3 years I had lived for the moment when I would finally be free of all the institutions that bound me.  Between 2005 and 2008 while attending George Mason, my life revolved around trying to get straight A’s (which I almost did, was tainted by 2 B’s), train at least 3 hours per day, and work up to three jobs at a time (part time jobs) to save up money to leave and begin a professional career of a fighter. I was heading to Thailand one a one way ticket and for the next almost 2 years I would spend most of my time training in Muay Thai while beginning to make my connections with people in the Asian MMA scene, people who are now also benefitting from the rise of MMA in Asia.

That was the prologue to the story that we can call PAKMMA. Many people wonder what PAKMMA is, and to be brutally honest with you, that’s a valid question because what PAKMMA is, is something that evolves with the changing of the MMA scene in Pakistan. At first we were just a blog that I had, far, far more basic than the website we have now; it was just a simple wordpress blog. That blog was like a lighthouse to MMA fans in Pakistan that the time was now to get together and make MMA a sport in Pakistan. Than it was a fanpage and website which acted as a news portal to let people know of different martial arts gyms around the country and to give them a forum where they could get together and exchange ideas. Than it began to serve as a liaison and ambassador to the international MMA community, soon after that it helped guide the first ever event in Pakistan- Pak Fight Club towards holding an MMA event in Pakistan. That was the first time Multiple Refs were needed, the issue of judges came into question etc. But events were held once a year making development of these areas slow. But now things are different, we have two events, with the possibility of more on the horizon. We have fighters like myself; competing internationally with more young fighters to follow me within the next year. With that, PAKMMA is to evolve again and adapt to the changing needs of the Pakistani MMA scene.  So stay tuned! But that is the story of things and although I created PAKMMA for everyone, to me it’s a personal story separate from the public posts, and the events etc. Just as me leaving the United States to find my future in Asian MMA was a prologue to my personal “PAKMMA” story, me fighting in ONEFC was the end of a chapter and the beginning of “Part II.”

To rewind a bit, as stated before the Prologue was me leaving the United States, training in Thailand and become a part of the Asian MMA scene. Chapter One was my first year here in the apartment, which served as headquarters for PAKMMA and the first MMA gym. Chapter two with the move to Shaheen Academy and ended with the introduction of Pak Fight Club and a busy, busy chapter 3 started with the move to Synergy MMA Academy, the coming of ONEFC and ending with the introduction of another promotion Veshi Championship League with a climactic finish that was my fight in ONEFC, something that will have major repercussions for MMA in Pakistan.

So, what’s the point of all this? The point of all this, is to look at what has happened in these past three years and then to stop and think what is going to happen in the next three. As Part 2 in my “PAKMMA” story begins, I can’t wait to see what happens, just wait for even bigger developments as things begin to grow exponentially and we creep nearer and nearer to that “tipping point”

. But remember, I am not the only one with a “PAKMMA story” everyone of you readers has one too, some older than other but all equally as exciting and equally as important as we continue to work together to make this the biggest sport in the country.

When I started training in Synergy DHA under Bashir Ahmad, the most common reaction I received from my peers and family was “ O my GOD! Why would anyone want to get punched in the face” or “What an animal you have to be to hit the other person in the face?”

Well guys MMA isn’t about beating the crap out of the other person, it is not a street fight. It’s a test of skill. Two trained professionals (or amateurs for that matter) get into the cage and try to outplay each other. It’s almost like chess, except a lot more physical .

MMA is not a sport, it’s a lifestyle. It doesn’t start or end in the gym or the cage. The cage is for the exhibition of skills acquired through hard work. The real work is done behind the scenes, on the roads, in the gym, with each breath of a fighter.

From eating healthy to fighting in the cage, a fighter is completely transformed as a person. The training makes him sharp, make his mind more aware. He learns to be patient, not to pay attention to small distractions. He is trained to overcome obstacles. He knows how important it is to stay focused. He constantly pushes the boundaries, he constantly raises the bar, and that is what makes him successful not only as a fighter but as a human being too.

I personally found the training at synergy help me with my anger management issues and channel my energy towards a better aim. I used to do weight lifting before coming to Synergy. My training here taught me two very important things; humility and respect. Like any professional you have to adhere to a set of principles. Respect towards the sport, towards the other fighter, towards the hard work he has put into gaining the skills.

Another key aspect of training in MMA is the level of the self-confidence it instills in you. You feel better about yourself and I would even say it gives you a feeling of being content. When you put your energies into something this productive you are bound to feel good about yourself. This development in one’s self makes him an asset to people around him and the society at large.

Respect is a key which holds PAKMMA community together. The fighters fight in the Paktagon but that is where the fight ends. There is no animosity between fighters and no bad blood between two guys once they exit the cage. In fact the bond made in blood and sweat is stronger than most bonds forged in life.

In the end I would like to request all the readers who are double minded about MMA to find a MMA gym near them and start training, even if they don’t want to fight professionally, this training will benefit them in all walks of life.

Pak MMA means a lot to me because I have personally learnt a lot of things from it. I would like you to know what Pakmma is? Pak MMA, MIXED MARTIAL ARTS in PAKISTAN, is an organization, based in Lahore, and has its Gym named Synergy MMA academy.  PAKMMA is founded by the famous and beloved Bashir Ahmad. He came from the States and his dream was to bring this game of MMA into Pakistan. He left states and came to Pakistan and started this organization and Gym.

PAK MMA supplies gloves, shin pads, rash guards and many other things related to MMA.

When I first came to the first gym named Shaheen, I was like where have I come, I don’t want to learn boxing, what the heck is this? I took 2 or 3 lessons, I saw the people there and the coach Bashir Ahmad it was amazing. They all were so friendly and I never use to make friends. But when I joined this club I made many friends. Afnan Iftikhar and Waqar Umar became my best friends. They both are like my brother, not like my brothers, they are my brothers.

I used to call Bashir Ahmad “Bashir bhai” from the very start. He is a very honest and a very loving person.

Now we all are like family, Pak MMA is a family. If I am out and I am with my Pak MMA friends and I am late , my mom calls me and ask where am I? I tell her that I am with my gym friends and she knows that I am fine with them because they also my family.

Now we have a great gym named Synergy MMA Academy owned by Bashir Ahmad we really enjoy there during our trainings. We do very hard training and have a lot of fun. We will start dancing when we are free, have a few jokes, play around with each other, it is just amazing.  It is very difficult to explain in words that how this PAK MMA means to us.

I will always help my PAKMMA team in their hard work and what they are doing for MMA to grow in Pakistan.

I was introduced to MMA in Pakistan by a very close friend. When I was told that I will be going to a “gym”, I had already perceived how it is going to be. I had in my mind a place where there will be a number of machines for weight lifting, some tread mills and exercise cycles and free weights here and there. What I saw was something akin to a cultural shock.

It was a small basement gym with no exercise cycles, no tread mills, no machines, no grunting and growling guys with bulging muscles. Instead, there was boxing ring in one corner and wrestling mats which doubled both as the exercise and practice area. There were few free weights but nothing like you’d see in a traditional gym. It looked like a minimalist approach to what a gym usually is. This was my 1st visit to Shaheen MMA Academy in DHA Lahore..

I went to the gym because I wanted to lose weight. To me the prospect of learning how to box, fight and to learn how to defend myself while losing weight and getting in shape was exciting as it was completely different than the usual methods used for weight loss. Here, not only I was going to lose weight, I was going to have fun doing that and I was also going to learn new skills. Skills that everyone in my opinion must learn.

I met Bashir Ahmad who was the head coach, trainer and owner. Day one and I was made to go through some of the toughest exercises I have ever had to go through in my whole life. I have played Rugby for Lahore so I was not alien to tough workouts. However, I was neither mentally and in no way physically ready for what I was made to go through. Day 1 at the gym had taught me few things: This is not your traditional gym. They are not just going to help you lose weight, they are going to train you like a warrior. In the next few days, as I started to get to know the guys, I found everyone really warm, really easy going and very friendly. These were guys who would get into the ring every Friday and would punch each other out without holding back. As soon as the bell rang and the round was over, they would be brothers, friends and comrades.

Even though I was told not to push myself too hard, I decided that I was good enough to get into the ring and spar. A freak accident led to an injured knee and I was out for over a year. My weight loss effort had come to an abrupt end. In this one year, a lot changed. Shaheen MMA Academy moved to a new, bigger and better location in DHA and took on a new name. It is now known as Synergy MMA Academy. There are classes in the morning and females have started to come into train as well. From one MMA promotion, we now have 2 MMA promotions in Lahore (VCL & PFC). MMA in Pakistan is now more popular thanks to what Basheer achieved in Singapore. Basheer “the coach” I knew, had won his fight in ONE FC and is widely being recognized for his efforts and rightly as God Father of MMA in Pakistan.

The location of the gym may have changed, MMA in Pakistan may have gained more popularity; the soul of this gym has not changed at all. Besides it being completely different than a traditional gym, this “hang out” is unique in many ways. You will find guys from every level of the society working out at the same time. I have seen CEO’s of companies working out alongside waiters from local restaurants. No one bothers who you are. There is an atmosphere of mutual respect where who you are outside the gym means nothing inside the gym. One will be hard pressed to find such an atmosphere in any gym in Pakistan.

My knee is fine now. I am going to start my “hang out” again. As I do that, I would like to urge anyone who is reading this, to join Synergy. You have no idea what you have been missing out on. Should you decide to give MMA a try @ Synergy, I want you to come with an open mind. You will not find gleaming, chromed, branded equipment. What you will find is: tough workouts that are geared towards results and enriching your quality of life.

“A man’s inner self is revealed from his speech”. This was the opening statement of a sermon delivered by my Sheikh Dr Shahid Awais DB. This blog is to ask my readers to have an open mind and look at what is going on around us. Open up your eyes and hearts to the truth, accept that we as a nation lack a lot in areas like unity, trust, respect, tolerance, etc and try to build on these areas.
In Feb’ 2013 when I found out Bashir Ahmad ( Bashir Bhai) was given the fight card to fight in ONE FC I was really excited. Started following his posts on his page on Facebook. What increased my respect for Bashir Bhai more was his status on March 10th, 2013 where he said that everyone kept saying this fight was yours, but he replied that this fight is not just mine but this fight is for Pakistan.

Bashir Bhai’s words spoke to me. I would question myself if this man can do something for Pakistan, why am I not doing anything about it. These words revealed what he truly felt. Now I wonder why he was given the title of “Somchai” the real man. His words had been etched into my heart. “This fight is for you Pakistan”.
Pakistan has had legends in the past as well and nearly all of them have a similar story. Pakistan Cricket team won the cricket world cup in 1992 under the captaincy of Imran Khan. Now look at what happened to it. Pakistani cricket team has become famous for charges of corruption, booking matches/match fixing, using drugs, we even had our players sent to jail. Let’s look back a few more years where Pakistani Squash legends like Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan who were world No. 1 professional Squash players from Pakistan. What happened after these 2 legends, did Pakistan stop producing quality players. Boxers like Imtiaz Masood who won Gold Medal in Asian Games 1978 are not even heard of by the public. Great football/soccer legends of the 1960’s Murad Bakhsh, Turab Ali and Yousuf Jr. were never brought out to the public.

Heroes of the 1960s, Murad Bakhsh, Turab Ali and Yousuf Jr.

Murad Bakhsh was living in destitute conditions in Karachi’s Lyari area. Hunger and poverty had forced to sell his own medals, he had won, just to survive. Mehrullah Lassi and Faisal Karim are banned for life, both are Boxers. Mehrullah Lassi was an amateur boxer best known to win a gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games. Pakistan has had a lot of talented people wasted, dejected, forgotten. The list goes on.
My own opinion as to why I see these talents wasted is that we as a nation know nothing about these heroes. Pakistan has a very tarnished image in the international community and we are to blame ourselves for it. Another reason is that other Nations do not wish to see Pakistan rise in any domain. They will crush us from within and make sure we are humiliated to the extent that we can never show our faces in public again. We need to get over our differences and need to think of ourselves as a Nation. Positive competition is healthy and necessary for growth and negativity will only destroy us.
My request to the audience is to respect our elders, be it family or the elders of the domain they are in. Pay them the proper respect, learn from their experiences. They spent their lives learning the domain. There is no alternative to experience, no matter how brilliant you are, no matter how fast you can learn things. We need to think big, and keep everyone with us on the same track and pace. Pakistan is our home, it is our identity. Pakistan is what we are and who we are. We should think for what is best for our country as well as what is best for us. A road has been made in Pakistan for Mixed Martial Arts. Please do not let this sport have the same end as the other sports. Value the deserving players, let them come through a proper channel and merit.
Pakistan Zindabad !

Everything is sinking in and things have changed, how they have and will change I am yet to see as quite frankly the dust has not just yet settled. But I can tell you this much, MMA in this country is not going to the same anymore. A storm is brewing and it’s exciting me and scaring me at the same time. The success, the exposure, and the recognition I have wanted for MMA in Pakistan, these things I dreamed about and for which people thought me a fool are now here upon us. Let’s see what form it is to take.

Me and my cornermen, Afnan and Mahmood are like war buddies. Our experience at ONEFC together as the first Pakistani representatives in international MMA and on such a grand stage are going to be something that we can understand. Those who have seen it on TV or on the net cannot understand what it is like to really be there.  The first time we heard the BOOM of the drum from the ONEFC theme and saw the cage and the lights and the sound echo amongst 9,000 screaming fans, your blood would chill and you would get goosebumps. It’s really happening you think to yourself…

Us three keep going back to that moment and night and it won’t leave us. I will do my best to give you all my best effort to try and take you there while you read on…

More news and backstage info to come soon!

The headliners for this event were the championship fights of course, the first being Usman Mirza(TFF) fighting Idrees Zazai(Synergy) in a “Survival of the fittest” match, which would be three fights with breaks, a best of 3 in a way. However that could not happen as in the second round of the first match(under Vehshi rules) Idrees twisted his knee and being unable to continue, giving Usman Mirza the win and the cruiserweight championship belt.

Between that and the main event there were several notable fights, one being Mohsin Ahmed of Synergy vs Hamza Ahmed of Askari MMA. Even though the refereeing was highly questionable in this fight, it was a close fight with several hard striking exchanges taking place both standing and on the ground. Eventually Mohsin fought to improve position and finish via Armbar.

Another fight I’d like to mention is Faizan Khan(Team Fight Fortress) vs Muhammad Shahid(Pakido). In this fight Faizan showed incredible striking, controlling the pace and quickly finishing the fight with devastating ground and pound.

The second title fight was the much anticipated main event, a rematch between Uloomi Karim and Zulqarnain, as their first match ended with Uloomi winning via TKO and many people disputed the ref’s call. This fight however ended in vicious TKO with Zulqarnain’s corner stopping the fight, ending the dispute once and for all.

All in all, VCL 2: Bloody February was a pretty awesome event, the fights were great along with delicious food and a good crowd. Also Triple S entertainment has announced their next VCL event will be in June/July so we have something to look forward to this summer.

The full fight card and result is listed below:
(W = win, C = championship)
Raja awais vs Kamran Iqbal (W)
Usman Mirza (W)(C) vs Idrees Zazai
Muhammad Jamil vs Muhammad Imran (W)
Muhammad Shah vs Faizan Khan (W)
Mohsin Ahmed (W) vs Hamza Ahmed
Ovais Shah (W) vs Danyal Sikander
Nadeem Sharif (W) vs Ali Changezi
Safi ullah(W) vs Muhammad Furqan
Ahmed Mujtaba (W) vs Abdul Samad Afridi
Haroon Sohail (W) vs Ala Gul Afridi
Ashfaq Jutt (W) vs Arsalan Ali
Uloomi Karim (W)(C) vs Muhammad Zulqarnain

Photos courtesy of Raja Ali