Pakistani MMA fighter Manesha Ali has won a gold medal at the IMMAF World Cup in Luanda, Angola. She defeated Angola’s Leonela Isabel Blaiye by submission in the second round.
The Pakistan MMA Federation confirmed the victory. Manesha secured the submission with just 15 seconds remaining in the round.
Manesha Seals Victory With Standing Guillotine
Blaiye attacked aggressively during the final moments of the round. However, Manesha responded with a standing guillotine.
The move forced Blaiye to submit. Manesha then celebrated her major victory inside the arena.
The fighter comes from Gilgit-Baltistan and trains at Brave Gym Lahore. Her sister Maleeha watched the bout from the crowd and joined the celebration after Manesha’s hand was raised.
Pakistani Fighter Targets World Championship
The IMMAF World Cup brought together 15 top-ranked teams from around the world. The tournament featured leading amateur MMA fighters from several countries.
Manesha will now prepare for the Pakistan Open. She will then compete at the IMMAF World Championships in Georgia from November 1.
The Pakistani fighter said she has complete faith in her training and the guidance of Omar Ahmed. She also said her skills have improved significantly in less than a year.
“My goal is to become world champion in IMMAF and be the first Pakistani female fighter in UFC,” Manesha said.
MMA Federation Praises Manesha’s Achievement
Pakistan MMA Federation chief Omar Ahmed welcomed the victory. He said Manesha’s success made the challenges of developing MMA in Pakistan worthwhile.
The gold medal adds another major achievement to Manesha’s growing international career. She will now focus on the Pakistan Open and her upcoming world championship campaign.
