Uloomi Karim competed in the World Series of Fighting, which is the third largest mixed martial arts (MMA) platform, in August 2016 and beat India’s Yadwinder Singh who has a 5-0 record.

During three, five minute rounds, the 25-year-old Karim won on technical points and scored points for landing more punches and elbows than his opponent.

Karim started learning traditional martial arts when he was eight, and in 2004 he joined the national team camp to learn Taekwondo, earning his black belt in 2007.

Dawn caught up with him in Islamabad to talk about his experience of competing with Yadwinder Singh and the techniques he uses in a fight.

Q: What is your favourite strike to use in a fight?

A: The best part about MMA is that it gives you the freedom to attack and hit your opponent however you like.

Kicks, punches, using the elbows or shins, I can strike the adversary anyway I like in order to knock him down.

Other physical contact sports have more rules and regulations which limit striking options.

Q: What was fighting Yadwinder Singh like, since he had earned a reputation for winning all the fights he has taken part in?

A: I knocked him down in the second round but he recovered well which shows how well he is trained and conditioned.

He also had an edge because he is a traditional wrestler. We could both not get the other to submit or knock one another down. I won by the judges’ points as I had landed more punches, kicks and elbows. It was an incredible (experience).

Q: How did you get into mixed martial arts and what are your plans ahead?

A: My father tells me I was born to do this. I had a lot of support from my brothers Ehtisham Karim and Ali Sultan and their friend Bashir Ahmed, who is one of the first Pakistanis to fight in MMA competitions internationally.

They also regulated the MMA in Pakistan and trained me. These people have played a significant role in inspiring me and helping me make my dream of a being a mixed martial artist true.

If I can make it, the plan is to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. That is my dream for which I am currently training.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2016