Pakistan’s Ahmed Mujtaba takes on China’s Jia Wen Ma

Quetta-born MMA fighter looking to improve on his 9-1 record

KARACHI: Pakistan's top Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Ahmed ‘Wolverine’ Mujtaba will face China's Jia Wen Ma on Friday at the One Championship cage in Malaysia, with the latter looking to avenge his compatriot Kai Wen Li's defeat from last year.

Ahmed’s first fight of 2018 will see him look to improve upon his already impressive 9-1 record and the 25-year-old has said he will be on the offensive right from the get-go and will look to knock out Wen in the first round.

"I am ready for this fight and have only one thing on my mind, which is to win," said Ahmed. "This fight really motivates me since Ma comes into it having achieved more in his career than I have. I know the quality of my opponent and have therefore fought harder than I have ever fought before.”

Ahmed has reached Malaysia, with the weigh-in for the match set to take place on Thursday for their featherweight class.

Hailing from Balochistan, Ahmed believes raising the Pakistan flag at an international arena will be the most satisfying part of his fight.

"It is a great feeling when my hand is raised and I get the chance to keep the green Pakistan flag high at the ONE Championship arena,” he said. “I have always been grateful to ONE Championship and its founder Chatri Sityodtong for their support in my career. Sityodtong is the founding father of Asian MMA and he is providing us with a great platform. I want to request support from all of Pakistan for this fight.”

Brazilian MMA fighter Renato Velame coached Ahmed in Brazil last year, while fellow Pakistani MMA fighter Mehmosh 'the Renegade' Raza is also with him in Malaysia for support.