Maliha Ali defeats Russian favourite to reach MMA World Championship quarter-finals

Pakistan’s Maliha Ali pulled off a major upset at the IMMAF World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, defeating two-time European champion Veronika Drozdova of Russia by split decision in their featherweight (65.8kg) contest on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old from Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, overcame an opponent representing one of the best-funded mixed martial arts programmes in the sport to reach the quarter-finals of the amateur world championships.

Maliha, a wushu champion and national kickboxing gold medallist, had entered the competition after winning silver at the IMMAF World Cup in Angola earlier this year.

She took control of the opening two rounds, although Drozdova mounted a comeback in the third. Fighting from a southpaw stance, Maliha initially kept her distance before moving in and pinning the Russian against the cage. She landed several clean strikes to finish the first round strongly.

In the second, Maliha secured a takedown and moved into full mount, landing heavy blows from the top. However, the effort appeared to take its toll in the final round, when Drozdova took her down and controlled the action on the ground.

The Russian won the third round, but Maliha had done enough in the first two to secure the judges’ decision.

Following the announcement, Maliha celebrated with her arms raised before embracing Drozdova and prostrating herself on the mat with the Pakistan flag draped over her shoulders. Pakistan MMA Federation president Omar Ahmed, who was in her corner, also celebrated the victory.

Maliha will face Mexico’s Andrea Gabriela Guzman Salazar in Wednesday’s quarter-final. Her twin sister, Manesha, who won gold in Luanda earlier this year, is also scheduled to compete, taking on Poland’s Martyna Caruk. Both sisters are pursuing world titles.