Pakistan will make its first mixed martial arts appearance at the Asian Games when MMA debuts at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Japan.
The Pakistan Mixed Martial Arts Federation has confirmed representation in three key roles. Asim Khan will compete as an athlete, Abu Huraira will officiate as a referee, and Dilawar Khan Sanan will serve as team official.
MMA Joins Asian Games Programme
The Olympic Council of Asia added mixed martial arts to the 2026 Asian Games programme in April 2025. The full-contact sport combines techniques from striking, wrestling and grappling disciplines.
MMA will feature six medal events and sit within the contact-sports category alongside ju-jitsu and kurash. This will mark the sport’s first appearance at Asia’s biggest multi-sport competition.
The 20th Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4 across Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya. Japan previously hosted the continental event in Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
More than 17,000 athletes and officials have registered for the Games, according to organisers. MMA competitions will take place at the Inae Sports Center in Nagoya, which will also stage wrestling.
Pakistan Secures Athlete and Referee Representation
PMMAF said Asim Khan will become Pakistan’s first MMA athlete to compete at the Asian Games. His selection gives the country a direct presence in the sport’s inaugural medal programme.
The Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association selected Abu Huraira as an International Technical Official and referee. PMMAF described him as Pakistan’s top-ranked and highly experienced MMA referee.
His appointment places a Pakistani official among those responsible for applying competition rules and overseeing bouts at the continental event. The federation called it international recognition of Pakistan’s refereeing standards and technical capability.
Dilawar Khan Sanan will accompany the delegation as the Pakistan MMA team official. His role will involve supporting the athlete and coordinating the team’s participation during the Games.
Federation Hails New Era for Pakistan MMA
PMMAF President Zulfiqar Ali congratulated all three representatives, with particular praise for Huraira’s appointment.
“The inclusion of MMA in the Asian Games and Pakistan’s representation as both athlete and official is a historic achievement for Pakistani mixed martial arts. This honor will open new avenues for Pakistan’s young MMA athletes and officials,” Ali said.
He also offered his best wishes and prayed for the success of Huraira, Khan and Sanan in Japan.
The federation appealed to Pakistanis to offer special prayers for the delegation’s success, performance and ability to bring honour to the country.
MMA’s inclusion gives Pakistani fighters access to a major multi-sport stage beyond traditional professional promotions. It may also strengthen pathways for athlete development, international officiating and federation-level cooperation across Asia.
It also represents an important step for the federation’s long-term international ambitions.
For Pakistan, the presence of an athlete, international referee and team official signals a broader breakthrough. PMMAF said the country’s MMA journey has now entered a new and historic era.
