Shahab Ali Wins Second Consecutive Asian Silver Medal in MMA

LAHORE: (Sports Desk) – Pakistani mixed martial artist Shahab Ali continued his international progress by securing a silver medal in the Senior Men’s Lightweight (70.3kg) category at the 2024 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Asian Championships in Lahore. The achievement marked his second consecutive silver medal at the continental competition, following his runner-up finish at the 2023 championships in Bahrain.

The 2024 tournament was a landmark occasion for Pakistan, which hosted the IMMAF Asian Championships for the first time. Organised by the Pakistan MMA Federation under IMMAF sanction, the event brought together amateur fighters from across Asia and provided local athletes with an opportunity to compete on home soil.

Shahab Ali Records Two Impressive Victories

Ali made a strong start to his campaign, knocking out Iran’s Daryush Khanlari just 32 seconds into the opening round. The rapid finish became one of the standout moments of the tournament and later earned further recognition from the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Federation.

He continued his winning run against Lebanon’s Fadi Jaber, securing victory through a first-round triangle choke. The submission advanced Ali to the lightweight final, where he faced Kazakhstan’s Neimat Assadov.

The gold-medal bout ended in the second round after Assadov secured a triangle choke to claim victory. Ali finished the competition with silver, matching his result from the previous year’s Asian Championships.

Back-to-Back Silver Medals Mark International Consistency

Ali’s performance in Lahore followed his silver-medal finish at the 2023 IMMAF Asian Championships in Bahrain. During that competition, he reached the final after defeating India’s Saikeerthinath Sasikumar and Shammas Abdul Latheef.

According to the Pakistan MMA Federation, Ali became the first Pakistani athlete to win a silver medal at the IMMAF Asian Championships. His return to the final in 2024 further highlighted his consistency against international opposition in the amateur lightweight division.

Before establishing himself at the continental level, Ali had already won Pakistan’s National Lightweight MMA Championship in both 2022 and 2023. Those domestic titles helped establish his credentials as a leading competitor in the country’s amateur lightweight category.

Pakistan Wins 12 Medals at the 2024 Championships

Ali was part of a Pakistani national team that collected 12 medals at the 2024 Asian Championships, according to the Pakistan MMA Federation. The team’s overall tally included two gold, four silver and six bronze medals.

The results reflected the participation and achievements of Pakistani fighters across multiple weight categories, with the home championships providing valuable international competition experience.

Asian Federation Recognises Ali’s Knockout

Ali received further recognition in 2025 when the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Federation (AMMAF) presented him with its Knockout of the Year award during the Asian Championship in Jounieh, Lebanon.

The award recognised his 32-second knockout of Khanlari at the 2024 tournament in Lahore, adding another distinction to his amateur MMA career.

Originally from Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and based in Islamabad, Ali trains with Team Fight Fortress. His progression from national championship titles to consecutive Asian silver medals reflects his continued participation in international amateur mixed martial arts.

With two national lightweight titles, back-to-back Asian silver medals and recognition for his knockout performance, Shahab Ali has added several milestones to his sporting record while representing Pakistan on the continental stage.