Former Commonwealth heavyweight champion, Sangram Singh will make his Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) debut on September 21 against Pakistan’s Ali Raza Nasir during the Gama International Fighting Championship. Both fighters will take on each other at the Heroes Square in Tbilisi, Georgia. As per the release by MMA, Singh is the first male fighter to make a transition from wrestling to MMA, while Puja Tomar is the first Indian wrestler to make a transition from wrestling to MMA.
Ahead of his debut, Singh said that he wants to inspire the new generation. “I want to do something different and inspire all my young friends,” he said during an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat. “MMA is a trending sport as in India most youngsters are drawn to sports like soccer and MMA. Maybe my return through MMA will inspire many people to pursue careers in combat sports like MMA, UFC, and others. My comeback is for all those kids who dream of becoming sportspersons. If I can help them in any way, that will be my victory,” he further continued.
The 38-year-old is returning to the sport after a six-year hiatus. In his last wrestling match, he beat Pakistan’s Muhammad Saeed at the Dubai Pro Wrestling Championship. Singh is known for his great record in wrestling and made a significant impact on the sport. Talking about his preparations for MMA, he said that he has been preparing in Bangkok for the last 25 days.
“I have been preparing for this for a long time. I was in Bangkok for the last 25 days, learning boxing punches and also I was training outside. With my wrestling background, I just have to sharpen my skills in Jujitsu, which is from Brazil because MMA is a tough sport, and it’s a mix of all these disciplines,” Singh added.
Sangram Singh vs Ali Raza Nasir: Date, Timing, Venue, and More
When and where will Sangram Singh’s match against Ali Raza Nasir take place?
The match between Singh and Raza will take place on September 21 at the Heroes Square in Tbilisi, Georgia. The timings of the event as per the Indian Standard Time is yet to be confirmed.
Where can fans watch Sangram Singh vs Ali Raza Nasir?
The broadcast and live-streaming details of the match are yet to be confirmed.