The May 16th scheduled Pakistan Warrior Challenge (PWC) has been canceled and has now been changed to a Shaheen Smoker. The next PWC is still to be announced and there is no scheduled tentative date as of yet.
The upcoming Shaheen Smoker may also include kick boxing and grappling matches if willing participants are founds.
In other news, Shaheen MMA Academy should officially open in time for the Shaheen Smoker.
To get a better idea of what is going on behind the scenes please read the blog entry by PAK-MMA President and Owner of Shaheen MMA Academy, Bashir Ahmad
Posted on: February 6th, 2010 by admin 17 Comments
Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan is happy to inform everyone that the very first MMA competition in Pakistan will be held on the 28th of February at the White Sports Club in Model Town. Details are currently being finalized but here is a breakdown of the current format in which the tournament is to be held.
- Competition will NOT be tournament format. Each fighter will fight only once in a match lasting 3 rounds of 3 minutes with one minute break in between.
- Fighters will be paired according to weight and experience. Weight classes are as follows:
1) 45-50 kg
2) 50-55 kg
3) 55-60 kg
4) 60-65 kg
5) 65-70 kg
6) 70-75 kg
7) 75-80 kg
8) 80-85 kg
9) 85-90 kg
10) 90+ kg
Experience will be noted as follows:
1-3 years – Novice
3-5 years – Intermediate
5 + years – Advanced
- Full MMA rules EXCEPT no elbows to the face. All other rules are the same as the UFC. Rules will be explained a number of times in details to fighters participating in the competition.
- Protective equipment will be provided and worn to include groin cup, MMA sparring gloves, Head guards and shin guards. Mouth piece is to be the responsibility of the fighter.
- There will be an entry fee of 200 rs. Entry fee will cover the costs of shirts given to fighters, medical personnel fees and refreshments.
- There will be a medically trained personnel in case of injury.
- All fighters above the age of 18 who participate will automatically be applied for Fite Selektor TV show selection.
- If a fight is not ended due to submission, TKO or KO and lasts the full 3 rounds then it will automatically be considered a draw due to a lack of knowledge regarding MMA judging at the moment. This will change in future events.
- Individuals can take part in the competition as part of a club, team or as an independent (no affiliation).
These are some of the main points so far. The last piece of information and critical to the success of this show is that in order to make match ups as fair as possible there will be trials held on 21st February, 12 pm at:
White Sports Club
E and F Block Model Town
Lahore
Trials will help determine fighters skill levels in order to have the most competitive possible match ups. Those who attend trials will benefit from knowing who their opponent will be as well as have their picture and profile taken to be posted on the site.
Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan looks forward to seeing you all there. Please stay tuned for further updates.
Anyone who would like to participate please email info@pak-mma.com we have received complaints that the email is not working and if you do not receive a reply within 24 hours please leave a comment with your email and we will respond immediately.
Posted on: January 23rd, 2010 by admin No Comments
Apologies for the late delivery of this article. The website was down for almost a week and just got back online.
On January 17th, at Sukh Chan Wellness club in Gulberg, Lahore Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan partnered with Fite Selektor to hold an MMA seminar for Pakistan Television. The purpose of the seminar was to educate the Pakistani audience on what Mixed Martial Arts is as well as let everyone know that there is a reality show taking place and that we are looking for as many applicants as possible.
The exercise studio at Sukh Chan had about 40-50 people during the shooting. People from all walks of life attended the seminar ranging from domestic workers to those working for international firms. Children just starting their martial training were in the crowd alongside some of the top Martial Artists in the country.
The seminar dealt with the history of modern MMA, what MMA is (a form of competition), the sports rules and the latest news regarding Fite Selektor Reality Show. This was the first part of the seminar, the second part of the seminar had players from various Martial Arts put on demos ranging from Kata’s to light sparring. With each demonstration Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan gave commentary and analysis about what was going on as well as how each style contributes to MMA.
After the demo’s there was a wrap up where Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan summarized the days events and ended with the conclusion that there was a lot of talent in Pakistan that just needed a platform and outlet to be recognized. Fite Selektor is helping make that happen. Then came the issue of wether or not pakistan is ready for such a new sporting event in light of the current situation. MMA Pakistan is of the opinion that Pakistani’s just want to go on with their lives as they normally do, and this sport has such potential in the country that the current security situation will not pose an obstacle in it’s path to supreme popularity.
A special thanks goes out to all those who attended particularly those instructors who came with their students. Thanks, Shahbaz Ali Khan, Shafiq Awan and Aamir Butt for attending and to all your students. Thanks to all those who performed at the seminar helping make it the success it was.
Next up on the MMA Pakistan agenda is continuing to look for fighters from all around Pakistan to compete in Fite Selektor and to begin organizing an amateur MMA event in Model Town Lahore on the 14th of February. Details regarding this will be announced in the coming weeks. Those who want to fight please contact info@pak-mma.com or call 0334 413 7706.
Those who wish to take part in Fite Selektor please send the following information to info@pak-mma.com
Name -
Age -
Location-
Weight -
Experience -
Phone Number -
PICTURE in fighting stance -
Please keep yourself updated and take some time to look around the website and watch how MMA has developed in Pakistan! MMA Pakistan the original origin and destination of all things Mixed Martial Arts in Pakistan!
Posted on: January 14th, 2010 by admin No Comments
Zuffa LLC, the company that owns the largest Mixed Martial Arts promotion in the world, The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently sold a 10% stake to Abu Dhabi based company, Flash Entertainment. This has made HUGE headlines in the MMA world because the UFC is known to be very restrictive on whom it does business with and guards the running of it’s company very closely.
The recent deal between Zuffa and Flash entertainment is the first step the UFC is taking in marketing its Mixed Martial Arts promotion to a truly global audience. Dana White, the president of the UFC has said that he forsees the sport of MMA becoming bigger than football around the globe. Will that happen? Maybe, maybe not. But even if it get remotely close that is a grand achievement.
Flash Entertainment has the networks and connections in the Middle East and Asia as well as a better cultural understanding of the countries in it’s sphere to bring the UFC into the mainstream to a whole new audience.
So what does this mean for Pakistan?
Right now this means that in the coming years, there are going to be more organizations like Fite Selektor looking to break into the Pakistani and South Asian market. This move by the UFC sends out a big message to all those already trying to get involved in this mega sports industry.
Get ready to start seeing more UFC cards on Pakistani channels, particularly those based in the UAE. Get ready to start seeing direct UFC involvement in MMA promotion in India and by proxy, Pakistan.
So all you martial artists in Pakistan who have spent your lives earning black belt after belt and competing in any tournament you can find for a plastic trophy keep training hard. The days of plastic trophies and a pat on the back will be over in exchange for sponsorships and cash prizes so that you can train full time as professionals.
Mixed Martial Arts will be here at the forefront bringing you the latest updates regarding MMA in the area as well as serving as a central point for Martial Artists and combat athletes of Pakistan to get together, work together, share ideas and become a nation known for producing some of the world’s top fighters.
That being said, let’s keep the Fite Selektor applications coming. More applicants will be showcased on our site in the coming days.
For those who live in Lahore, on Sunday, January 17th there will be a MMA seminar at Sukh Chan Wellness club in Gulberg at 4:30 pm. The seminar will answer all your questions about MMA. There will be some ground techniques covered and we can also accept applicants for Fite Selektor.
Posted on: December 25th, 2009 by admin 4 Comments
Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan visited the famous Akharas of Lahore in a Fite Selektor recruitment drive. The Pehlwans of Pakistan hold great promise as International Champions of MMA with education regarding the sport and cross training in other arts to round out their own existing ones. They are also in great shape and great care is taken to regiment their training and diets. They train twice a day and eat up to 500 rs worth of food daily to maintain their strength.
Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan got the chance to visit the home of Bashir Bohla Bhala on the back side of Lahore Fort, Bhamma Pehlwans Akhara, the largest Akhara of the area. For those who follow the local wrestling scene Bashir Bhola Bhala is currently at the top of the food chain throughout Pakistan having recently won another Championship. The Akhara houses about 2 dozen wrestlers and training sessions are watched by a number of former wrestlers who comment and advise throughout training.
Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan discussed MMA competition with the Ustads (teachers) and athletes of the Akhara. Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan looks forward to further working with the wrestlers of Pakistan to strengthen our traditional sports and to provide fame for Pakistan through international MMA competition.
Please watch the video below for some footage of our trip to the Akhara and don’t forget to spread the word and sign up for Fite Selektor. Keep yourself posted for more updates regarding Mixed Martial Arts in Pakistan.
Posted on: December 4th, 2009 by admin 11 Comments
A lot is going to be happening with Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan in the coming weeks, so everyone stay tuned and be active.
An instructor is available in Lahore for those wanting to learn Mixed Martial Arts. BJJ, Muay Thai or Boxing. Please do not expect a reply regarding any other martial. These are the only ones available. Please call 0334 413 7036
Grappling will be held soon in Model Town Park by Link Road. For those who can attend please send an SMS to 0334 413 7706 or email info@pak-mma.com. First session aimed for Sunday afternoon in Model Town Park.
Press conference from PTV regarding fite selektor. Please watch video below
If anyone wishes to compete in fite selektor please mail the following information along with PICTURE IN FIGHTING STANCE to info@pak-mma.com
Name
* Age
* Weight in KGs (Minimum Requirement 70 kgs)
* Height
* Experience in Years
* Style
* Wins / Loses / KOs
* email
* Phone
Referal Person
Please send all information by Dec 15th! Thanks.
We will also have the latest interview with Shah Hussain up in a few days. We apologize for the delay.
Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan is about to get very busy! We a lot of stuff planned over the next 8 weeks. Make sure to try and show up at any event you can and bring friends and family. If we don’t cover a city please let us know and we will try and include it on our tour. Please remember these are tentative dates. Nothing is finalized until we get feedback from fans on the ground. Remember Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan is YOU. You are going to make this happen. The fans and supporters of all Martial Arts are going to lead the way to a new stage in Pakistani sport. So, here are the tentative dates.
November 21st
Grappling session in Karachi – time and location to be announced
For those who want to get the most out of the seminars in Karachi it is highly recommended you attend these sessions!
December 1st
On Site Interview With Shah “No Pain” Hussain in London!
December 6th – 9th
Seminars in Lahore
Dec 9th – 12th
Seminars in Karachi
December 12th – Jan 3rd
Full time training in Lahore
Jan 3rd – 8th
Seminars in Islamabad
So that’s the basic idea of what will be going on for the next couple months
This has been out for a while but decided it was worth sharing with the readers to give you some idea how big MMA is getting around the world and that there are already promotions looking to bring it to Pakistan and recruit Pakistani fighters.
Here is a press release from a Dubai based MMA promotion called “Fiteselektor.”
“Fiteselektor, the Dubai based Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event will start it’s FITESELEKTOR GLOBAL TALENT TOUR in January 2009 in Pakistan.
MMA is a spectacular combination of wrestling and full contact kickboxing techniques.
Fiteselektor is the only MMA concept in the world where the audience decides, by means of SMS voting, who is fighting whom.
Fiteselektor’s first port of call will be Pakistan, where over the course of January 2009 fighters will be recruited all over the country.
These fighters will be selected in a reality tv program where they will undergo gruelling MMA training while competing with each other. The Fiteselektor jury decides who will make it to the next round. The ultimate winner will be awarded a professional MMA contract as well as a considerable amount of money.
More details will be provided in the press conference, scheduled for mid December 2008 in Karachi, Pakistan.”
Based on very reliable sources close to MMA Pakistan, FiteSelektor was not able to find anyone in Pakistan to aid them in their search for fighters. MMA Pakistan’s website came online just three months after this press release. However, that is ok. Next time they come, and it will be sooner than later, we’ll be ready and waiting with fighters from Pakistan
Greco-Roman wrestling is a combat sport which focuses on grappling. This form of wrestling does not permit holds below the waist and emphasizes upper body throws and slams such as the suplex etc. Unlike freestyle wrestling, a wrestler is not allowed to trip an opponent nor hook the opponent’s legs for blocking/avoiding throws.
Greco-Roman wrestling is a combination of arm drags, bear hugs, headlocks etc; all of these techniques have great importance in Greco-Roman wrestling. Similar to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Greco-Roman wrestling also focuses on controlling the opponent on the ground, thus rendering him ineffective on his back.
Greco-Roman wrestling is said to be developed mainly on lands east of the Mediterranean Sea, mostly considered to be lands where the Ancient Greeks resided. In ancient Greece wrestling was not considered as a martial art but a regular exercise for men and boys and was made compulsory in school’s physical education curriculum. Initially Greco-Roman wrestling made its way through Europe and became very popular over there. However due to its many restrictions it lost its popularity in Britain and the United States to free-style wrestling.
In Greco-Roman wrestling one can win by:
Fall: When one wrestler is successful in pinning the shoulders of his opponent to the ground/mat and maintaining the position for 1-2 seconds.
Technical fall: When one wrestler leads by 6 points from his/her opponent, the judges declare the wrestler ahead in points the winner.
Decision: At the end of the match if neither wrestler gets pinned the judges base their decision on points and the one with the most points win.
Forfeit/Disqualification: One may also win if the other wrestler forfeits due to injury or withdrawal and by disqualification due to getting multiple warnings or by carrying out un-sportsman like conduct etc.
The training regimen in Greco-Roman wrestling mostly focuses on conditioning and flexibility. One should be at the peak of his condition due to the quickness and the strength which is involved in wrestling, having to keep your opponent on his back, slamming/suplexing him etc. Flexibility is also a key factor in wrestling due to the high level of arches, turns, twists one must make to slam an opponent.
Also quickness and agility are main components which make a wrestler what he is.
Wrestling is a very demanding sport that requires the best from each athlete that steps onto the mat. The expectations and techniques remain relatively unchanged even though almost 3000 years have passed. Greco Roman wrestling is a true link makes it possible to connect the past history of this sport with its modern day incarnation.
Greco-Roman wrestling has played a prominent role in MMA. Since UFC 4 there have been many wrestlers that have entered the octagon/ring and dominated their opponents by taking them or slamming them to the ground. Notable Greco-Roman wrestlers in MMA include:
Posted on: November 3rd, 2009 by admin No Comments
This is not about BJJ, its not about wrestling, it’s not about judo. It’s about grappling or ground fighting. As an instructor once told me, “grappling at the highest levels is all the same”. What this means is that the fundamental concepts of grappling are the same no matter if your a judo black belt or a kushti wrestler. Of course the rules of your particular game may differ but the physical concepts of leverage, momentum, weight distribution etc don’t change.
In grappling there are two main facets to consider. One is positional dominance and control and the other is submissions.
Positional dominance is controlling your opponents body on the ground, an example of this is having someone in the full mount which is where you are sitting on top of your opponent. The person on top is in a dominant position because he can rain down strikes wit great effect on his opponent due to gravity while his opponent is pretty much helpless. Positional control comes into play regarding how effective you are in holding mount. You could get the mount position but then have huge problems staying on, constantly defending the chance of being bucked off. However, for someone with good positional control they can sit on top of their opponent and no matter how hard the other is struggling to buck them have total control with which to rain down effective strikes. Wrestlers are known for being very good with positional dominance and positional control.
Submissions are techniques applied on the ground (however they CAN be applied standing but are much harder to pull off, almost never see this in a pro fight) where a limb in manipulated beyond its normal range of motion causing pain and the potential for serious injury or when a choke is applied causing the opponent to lose consciousness. The most well known and utlized art form for this aspect of grappling in MMA is Brazillian Jiu Jitsu.
They are different animals but very closely related to each other with a few exceptions. The link between the two lies in the fact that generally speaking, a submission is much easier to obtain when you are in dominant position.
It’s all in the hips, is what my BJJ instructor always tells me. There is a lot of truth in that. To control an opponent, controlling their hips is very important. With the hips your opponent will try to get to guard, buck you off or scoot away to get to their knees. Controlling the hips is very important. This does not mean you should ignore the upper body, it just means that it requires more strength, attention, focus and technique to control a good opponents hips than it does his upper body.
A good drill to do for first time grapplers is to take turns with a partner trying to control each other in either side mount or mount. This will teach you to get used to being pinned underneath someone and remaining calm while looking for a way out. It will also teach the controlling partner how to remain on top of a resisting opponent without losing position. There are many techniques that are involved in this one aspect of ground fighting however this lays down the foundation of what is a long road of learning.
So they key point that one should learn from the article is that learn how to control position before submission. This is particularly true for MMA because from a dominant position you also have the added option of strikes making your top position all the more advantageous.
