Pakistan’s MMA fighter Ahmed Mujtaba marked his return to the ring in style on Friday, knocking out his Indian opponent Rahul Raju in the opening round of their bout in Singapore.
Mujtaba aka “The Wolverine” finished Raju aka India’s “Kerala Krusher” inside the opening minute of their fight, ducking an overhand right and countering with a punch of his own.
Ahmed Mujtaba Pakistani MMA fighter knocks out India's Rahul Raju in the first round at ONE Championship.
Congratulations Pakistan.
Pakistan zindabad!#CongratulationsPakistan pic.twitter.com/bQ89vqsPxC— Arsalan Bhatti (@ArxalanOfficial) February 5, 2021
Raju immediately fell to the canvas and even though Mujtaba followed up with another strike, the ref intervened. Ahmed took only 56 seconds to knock out his opponent.
It was Mujtaba’s first fight in almost three years. He had lost to Jia Wen Ma in March 2018, following which he has several bouts scrapped, twice with Raju and once with Eduard Folayang.
With the victory, Mujtaba improved his career record to 8-2, while Raju’s deteriorated to 7-6. Mujtaba’s claim to fame was the unbeaten 7-0 start to his career. He did not face a defeat for the first four years of his career until losing to Keanu Subba in 2017.
The win is Mujtaba’s third win on the global stage and it has also improved his overall record to 10-2. However, the fight between the two was on the cards for a long time but was getting delayed due to various reasons.
Ahmed Mujtaba – The Wolverine
Mujtaba hails from Quetta and started his MMA career from Islamabad-based Fight Fortress before parting ways. The 27-year-old Pakistani fighter, who trains with MYGYM in Pakistan and Astra Fight in Brazil, promised before the fight he will win his match against Raju for the people of Kashmir.
Congratulations Pakistan – Twitter is trending
The Pakistani nation is feeling so proud to have such an athlete among us. #CongratulationsPakistan is a top trend on Twitter today.
Netizens are busy hailing the brilliant and vigilant performance of Ahmed.
Congratulations Pakistan
Champion #AhmedMujtaba @ahmedwolverine1
Defeating India is a delight pic.twitter.com/q2YrQ8yJNt— Awais 🇵🇰🇹🇷 (@RajaAwaisDhany3) February 6, 2021
Ahmed Mujtaba Pakistani MMA fighter knocks out India's Rahul Raju in the first round at ONE Championship.
Congratulations Pakistan.
Pakistan zindabad!#CongratulationsPakistan pic.twitter.com/bQ89vqsPxC— Arsalan Bhatti (@ArxalanOfficial) February 5, 2021
Entire nation is proud of you #AhmedMujtaba Congratulations Pakistan pic.twitter.com/I0Td9aG9lB
— Rai Hasnain Ahmad (@RaiHasnainAhma2) February 6, 2021
What a great victory on kashmir solidarity day !! Congratulations Pakistan 🇵🇰#CongratulationsPakistan pic.twitter.com/nT4TKlQsuF
— Aamir Sindhi 🎖️🎖️🎖️ (@AamirWagan2) February 5, 2021
Two Successes in one day
Besides winning the championship, Pakistan has another reason to celebrate. Ali Sadpara and his son conquered K2 in the winter season. #K2winter2021 is also one of the top trends in Pakistan today.
MashaAllah for Mohammad Ali Sadpara and #AhmedMujtaba congratulations pakistan #K2winter2021 #CongratulationsPakistan
Love from overseas Pakistanis 👏❤️ pic.twitter.com/Gc2l0CRrLE— Mubbashar Hussain Bhatti (@MubbasharBhatti) February 6, 2021
Two successes for Pakistan in one day. Congratulations Pakistan Red heart Flag of Pakistan #K2winter2021 #AhmedMujtaba
Pakistan zindabad 🇵🇰
Sb se oncha ye jhanda humara rahe Aameen suma ameen 💓#Murshad41@iFaheemAshraf @Mahi41yofahim pic.twitter.com/00vsSB9hB6— 🦋ΜαᕼⒾ 𝔯AⒿ𝕡υţ🦋 (@Mahi41yofahim) February 6, 2021
#K2winter2021, climbing hero Muhammad Ali Sadpara became first Pakistani mountaineer to summit #K2 in winter & summer.
He is first to have climbed Nanga Parbat in winter.
He also scaled Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, Broad Peak, Lhotse peak, ,Makalu peak, Manaslu peak in Nepal. pic.twitter.com/OPuTMM81IT
— Jamil Nagri (@jamilnagri) February 5, 2021
Muhammad Ali Sadpara & team has Blazed the Green Flag 🇵🇰 on the top of mighty K2😍
Congratulations Pakistan#K2winter2021 pic.twitter.com/izuxdlSx1b— Muhammad Qasim (@chqasim1998) February 6, 2021
Congratulations Pakistan for the back to back victories. More power to Ahmed Mujtaba and Ali Sadpara.
Read Next: Twitter is on fire after Dehli police files case against Greta Thunberg