Bashir Ahmad (), (born October 12, 1982) is a

Pakistani-American Pakistani Americans () are citizens of the United States who have full or partial ancestry from Pakistan, or more simply, Pakistanis in America. They can be from different ethnic groups in Pakistan like Punjabis, Punjabi or Muhajir people, Muhaj ...

professional

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who is known as the "God-father of Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan". He is famous for being the pioneer of mixed martial arts in

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

. He is currently signed with

ONE Championship ONE Championship, formerly ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) until January 2015, is a Multinational corporation, multinational combat sports Promoter (entertainment), promotion founded on 14 July 2011 by Chatri Sityodtong and Victor Cui. Origi ...

Background

Bashir Ahmad was born in the city of

Faisalabad Faisalabad, formerly known as Lyallpur, is the List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by population, second-largest city and primary List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by population, industrial center of the Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan ...

Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

, but moved to

Great Falls, Virginia Great Falls is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population at the 2020 census was 15,953. History Colonial farm settlements began to form in the area as early as the late 1700s. Early on, the village ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, with his parents when he was three years old. In 2002, he pursued a career in the U.S. military, joining the

Virginia National Guard The Virginia National Guard is part of the National Guard of the United States, a dual federal-state military reserve force. It consists of the Virginia Army National Guard and Virginia Air National Guard. (The Virginia State Defense Force i ...

. In 2004, he was deployed to

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

when the war broke out. He was stationed in

Mosul Mosul ( ; , , ; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. It is the second largest city in Iraq overall after the capital Baghdad. Situated on the banks of Tigris, the city encloses the ruins of the ...

, working as a

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

medic in a team that disarmed explosives. Ahmad started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu around 2005, when the boom of MMA was taking place in North America. He came to

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

, Pakistan in 2007 with the aim of promoting MMA in his native country. After training local kids jiu jitsu for some time, he went to Thailand for a year to train in

Muay Thai Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...

. On his return to Pakistan in 2009, he set up a small MMA training gym in his own apartment. He nicknamed his apartment “The Slaughterhouse”. In 2012, Ahmad opened a proper gym named "Synergy MMA Academy" in Lahore which has grown to become one of the biggest gyms in the country.

Mixed martial arts career

PAK MMA

Bashir Ahmad laid the foundations of Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan with his arrival in Pakistan in 2007. The purpose of Mixed Martial Arts Pakistan was to promote all martial arts and combat sports in the country while mainly focusing on MMA. Working on his purpose, he went around the whole country organizing seminars mostly for BJJ and MMA and helped in conducting the very first MMA fighting events.

ONE Championship

Bashir Ahmad was the first Pakistani to compete in MMA at an international level when he made his debut in

by fighting Shannon Wiratchai at ONE FC: Kings and Champions on April 5, 2013. Ahmad got a cut in the first round but doctors let the fight continue and Ahmad won his promotional debut via unanimous decision. At ONE FC: Champions and Warriors, he lost to Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Bruno Pucci by submission via rear-naked choke. He fought Tanaphong Khunhankaew at ONE FC: Roar of the Tigers and won by submitting him with a

rear-naked choke The rear naked choke (RNC), also known as hadaka jime (裸絞) in Judo and "lion killer choke (Mata Leão)" in BJJ, is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. The word ''naked'' in this context suggests that, unlike other stra ...

. In ONE Championship: Valor of Champions, Bashir Ahmad stepped in to fight Amir Khan Ansari on a 3-day notice when Shannon Wiratchai, Khan's original opponent, was injured. Bashir Ahmad lost that fight by TKO via doctor's stoppage. Bashir Ahmad was scheduled to fight Martin Nguyen at ONE Championship: Odyssey of Champions but the fight was cancelled when Jadamba Narantungalag couldn't appear to fight for the main title match and Martin Nguyen took his place. Bashir Ahmad submitted his Egyptian opponent Mahmoud Mohamed in 83 seconds at ONE Championship: State of Warriors Bashir Ahmad previously worked as an executive in competition and matchmaking for

Shaheen Academy

Bashir Ahmad is an active advocate for using martial arts philosophy as a means for the betterment of at-risk youth. In 2015, he founded Shaheen Academy, a non-profit MMA gym and tutoring centre in

Lahore, Pakistan Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Punjab. It is the second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and 27th largest in the world, with a population of over 14 million. Lahore is one of Pakistan ...

. Shaheen is located in the middle of a large

slum A slum is a highly populated Urban area, urban residential area consisting of densely packed housing units of weak build quality and often associated with poverty. The infrastructure in slums is often deteriorated or incomplete, and they are p ...

, Charrar Pind, and its aim is to use martial arts as a vehicle for building confidence, discipline, and self-improvemnent in the youth of the slum. It provides free martial arts training and after-school tutoring for children. Bashir Ahmad holds an annual fundraiser for Shaheen and the academy runs entirely on donations.

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 4–3 , Mahmoud Mohamed , Submission (heel hook) , ONE: State of Warriors , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:23 ,

Yangon Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...

, Myanmar , , - , Loss , align=center, 3–3 , Jimmy Yabo , KO (punch) , ONE: Tribe of Warriors , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:21 ,

Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...

, Indonesia , , - , Loss , align=center, 3–2 , Amir Khan , TKO (doctor stoppage) , ONE: Valor of Champions , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:20 ,

Pasay Pasay, officially the City of Pasay (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 Philippine census, 2020 census, it has a ...

, Philippines , , - , Win , align=center, 3–1 , Tanaphong Khunhankaew , Submission (rear-naked choke) , ONE FC: Roar of Tigers , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:38 ,

Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...

, Malaysia , , - , Loss , align=center, 2–1 , Bruno Pucci , Submission (rear-naked choke) , ONE FC: Champions & Warriors , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:13 ,

, Indonesia , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Shannon Wiratchai , Decision (unanimous) , ONE FC: Kings and Champions , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Kallang Kallang ( ) is a Planning Areas of Singapore, planning area and New towns of Singapore, residential zone located in the Central Region, Singapore, Central Region of Singapore. Development of the town is centered around the Kallang River, the l ...

, Singapore , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Mohammad Arshad , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Pak Fight Club 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:26 ,

, Pakistan ,

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmad, Bashir 1982 births American male mixed martial artists American emigrants to Pakistan American expatriate sportspeople in Thailand American male Muay Thai practitioners American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu American people of Punjabi descent Living people Pakistani emigrants to the United States Pakistani male mixed martial artists Pakistani Muay Thai practitioners Pakistani practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Mixed martial artists from Virginia United States Army soldiers Martial artists from Punjab, Pakistan Sportspeople from Great Falls, Virginia United States Army personnel of the Iraq War Virginia National Guard personnel Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu ONE Championship mixed martial artists 21st-century Pakistani sportsmen