Pakistan’s Irfan Ahmad makes winning debut in MMA

23-year-old beats Nepalese opponent by submission in Singapore

KARACHI: Pakistan's Irfan Ahmad 'The Gorilla' defeated Nepal's kickboxing champion Sandeep Gurung by submission, courtesy an arm-bar move, in his professional debut at the One Warrior Series in Singapore.

PHOTO COURTESY: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

The 23-year-old was fighting in the straw-weight category and he is deemed as one of the best upcoming Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) talents with the new crop of athletes to make the country proud.

Irfan took no time to assert his dominance in the fight as he claims he wanted to have more time within the ring, with more strikes with Gurung, but the opportunity came his way for the submission early.

"Gurung is more of a striker and I wanted to have more strikes from him. It would have been good for me, for my experience, but then I had to seize the opportunity when I saw that I can end the fight with submission," Irfan told The Express Tribune after the fight. "I was not nervous at all. I just wanted the fight to end as quickly as possible."

"I want to dedicate this win to everyone who have supported me throughout, my teammates," said the Shaheen Team Captain.

Irfan said he had come to Lahore from Chiniot to pursue a career in MMA and then he met the god-father of Pakistani MMA Bashir Ahmad, who helped him train and got him into his Shaheen Academy as well.

PHOTO COURTESY: TEAM SHAHEEN

"I want to dedicate this to Shaheen kids too, who were watching the fight back home.The win goes out for everyone in Pakistan," said Irfan.

ONE Warrior Series is a show hosted by former world Champion Rich Franklin as he travels Asia and Australia looking for upcoming talent in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.

Irfan added that he was confident before the fight and he was prepared. Irfan is undefeated in national events and has represented Pakistan in the Amateur World Championships in Bahrain as well.