Kuala Lumpur, July 19: Sangram Singh has made history by becoming the first Indian to win the Asian Championship in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). On Sunday, he defeated Pakistani fighter Mohammad Abid Ali in just 1 minute and 20 seconds, marking a significant achievement in his career. This victory was his second against a Pakistani opponent and his fourth overall in MMA.
Sangram Singh maintained his undefeated record in the sport. Previously, he had triumphed over Ali Raza Nasir from Pakistan, Hakim Trabelsi from Tunisia, and Florian Codier from France. After his victory, he dedicated his win to 1.4 billion Indians, emphasizing that his sole aim in every fight is to honor the Indian flag.
His coach, Bhupesh Kumar, noted that Mohammad Abid Ali possessed excellent punching techniques and fought aggressively. Despite Abid’s reach advantage due to his height, Sangram remained composed and avoided rushing into any moves. A punch from Abid struck near Sangram’s eye, but he maintained his focus.
Although Abid also transitioned from wrestling to MMA, Sangram outperformed him with superior wrestling techniques. Within the first 30 seconds, Sangram executed a brilliant leg attack, swiftly transitioning into an ankle hold, which laid the groundwork for his victory. He pulled Abid back into the cage while maintaining the ankle hold and then applied a choke from that position, leaving Abid with no escape.
Sangram explained that Abid attempted to use the cage to counter his attacks, but by pulling him back inside, he thwarted his opponent’s strategy. Coach Bhupesh Kumar remarked that given Abid’s height and quick punching ability, the match initially seemed challenging. However, Sangram’s extensive wrestling experience ultimately proved decisive, as he had previously secured a win in Argentina using a similar leg attack.
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