On the sidelines of the Pakistan Open MMA Championship, Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation president Omar Ahmed laid out an ambitious plan to turn Mixed Martial Arts into one of the country’s top sports, while warning of the systemic challenges that threaten its growth.
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A former kickboxer and director of the World Talent Agency for South Asia, Omar highlighted the difficulty of attracting advertisers in a cricket-dominated market, where the Pakistan Super League remains the only established sports property. He pointed to global models like the UFC, NBA and NFL, arguing that Pakistan needs to diversify beyond cricket to ensure sustainable growth in sports.
He stressed that MMA holds unique promise, citing the global recognition of Pakistani fighters who regularly compete in international events, unlike athletes in many other local sports. Rawalpindi-born flyweight Ismail Khan, with nine wins and one loss, was noted as a rising example.
Omar also referenced Pakistan’s successful hosting of the IMMAF Asian Championship last year, which drew 300 athletes from 18 countries and generated nearly 50 million views worldwide, calling it proof of MMA’s commercial and social appeal. He described the sport as a discipline-driven lifestyle that resonates with youth, who he believes relate more to figures like Khabib Nurmagomedov than cricket stars.
While optimistic, Omar did not shy away from pointing out flaws in Pakistan’s sports federation system, which he said robs deserving athletes of opportunities due to politics and outdated structures. He added that despite international success, MMA has received little to no government support.
However, he revealed that the Punjab government is now backing the upcoming Pakistan Combat Night, fully funding and sponsoring the event. With Punjab’s young sports minister, a former combat sports enthusiast, showing keen interest, Omar sees a chance to make Punjab the “sports capital of Pakistan” and MMA the country’s next big sporting success.
