Anita Karim, Pakistan’s pioneering international female Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter, secured a significant victory over Italy’s Adriana Fusini at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. Hailing from the Hunza Valley, Anita has been a source of pride for the nation, accumulating numerous accolades at local and global levels.
In the 2017-18 season, she excelled at the Pakistan Grappling Challenge, clinching 7 gold medals and 1 silver.
Commencing her international MMA career in 2018, Anita faced a narrow defeat against New Zealand’s Nyrene Crowley at the ‘One Warrior Series 2’ event in Singapore. With only two losses in her international career, she rebounded with a remarkable win against Adriana Fusini in the ‘Women’s Atomweight’ category at Lumpinee Stadium. The match concluded in just 2 minutes and 20 seconds, as Anita secured victory via submission with a keylock.
At 27, Anita Karim boasts 5 international victories, showcasing her prowess in the MMA arena. Her family, consisting of three MMA-fighter brothers—Uloomi Karim, Ehtisham Karim, and Ali Sultan—hails from Gilgit. The Karim family, supportive of Anita’s career, established the MMA training center “Fight Fortress,” one of Pakistan’s pioneering MMA-oriented facilities.
Anita’s journey includes notable wins and experiences, with her second loss occurring against Dutch MMA athlete Noelle Grandjaen in Bangkok, Thailand, during the ‘Descendants of the Empire 2’ event in March 2022. Despite setbacks, Anita Karim’s triumphs reflect her resilience and commitment to making history as Pakistan’s first international female MMA fighter. Her recent victory in Thailand adds another milestone to her illustrious career, solidifying her status as a trailblazer in the world of MMA.
