ABU DHABI, Aug 17: Pakistan’s youngest fighter, 11-year-old Aurangzeb Taseer, made a winning start to the International Mixed Martial Arts World Cup, defeating South Africa’s 12-year-old Rubin Pretorius in his opening bout.
Taseer secured victory in a closely contested fight to advance to the next stage of the tournament.
The young Pakistani fighter will next face Uzbekistan’s Dawlatbek Alamov. A victory in the bout would take Taseer another step closer to the latter stages of the competition.
More than 1,000 athletes from 82 countries are reportedly taking part in the international event, making it a major gathering of young mixed martial artists from around the world.
Taseer’s victory is being seen as an encouraging development for mixed martial arts in Pakistan, particularly as the 11-year-old is competing against international opponents at such a young age.
If Taseer manages to win the tournament, he could earn the distinction of becoming the first Pakistani to win an international mixed martial arts World Cup title.
Pakistan’s got talent! 🇵🇰
An 11 year old Pakistani boy, Aurangzeb Taseer, represented Pakistan at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and dominated his opponent, finishing the bout in just two minutes.
All Pakistan needs to do is invest in sports, and we have no… pic.twitter.com/IJcFDm13zW— Raja Fateh Mahmood Ul Hassan (@RajaFatehAJK) August 17, 2026
His opening victory has generated interest among Pakistani fans, who will now be watching his next bout against the Uzbek fighter.
The youngster’s progress could also provide encouragement to other young fighters in Pakistan and contribute to the development of the sport at the grassroots level.
