Irfan Ahmed set to take on his Nepali counterpart Sandeep Gurung in Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series today
Irfan Ahmed is all set to make his professional debut in which he will take on his Nepali counterpart Sandeep Gurung in the straw weight fight at Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series today in Singapore.
Fighting out of Lahore, Pakistan, Irfan Ahmed will be making his professional Mixed Martial Arts debut at Rich Franklin’s ONE Warrior Series in Singapore today for a chance to win a $100,000 USD contract with ONE Championship.
Irfan will be the only Pakistani on the card in a show which has seen three Pakistani’s formerly make their debut, including women’s MMA pioneer Anita Karim, who achieved her first victory on 28th February, 2019 at ONE Warrior Series 4.
Pakistan's emerging boxer, Irfan will be facing Nepali National Kickboxing Champion, Sandeep Gurung in the straw-weight division. Sandeep Gurung is a veteran of ONE Warrior Series, where he took on Akihiro Fujisawa who later went on to win the coveted $100,000 contract.
While Irfan is undefeated in national events and has represented Pakistan in the Amateur World Championships in Bahrain. Irfan is not only an athlete but the captain of “Team Shaheen” a team founded by Bashir Ahmad, known as the “Godfather of Pakistani MMA”. Shaheen Academy where the team is based, is a non-profit facility with a focus on developing youth by sponsoring education and providing after-school tuition alongside martial arts training.
To his first ever professional fight, the new Pakistani talent, Irfan had the following to say,
“I am thankful to ONE Warrior Series, especially to Rich Franklin and Bashir Ahmad, for this opportunity and InshaAllah, I will not disappoint my country.”
In additional Irfan praised his teammates from Shaheen Academy and Rogue Fitness Lahore. The Pakistani athlete said,
“All this would not have been possible without my sponsors, coaches and teammates who are taking care of me as athletes and I won’t disappoint the team. I respect my opponent and I have seen his last fight, I am going to Knock him out in the very first round. It's my first professional fight on international stage and I am super excited for it."
ONE Warrior Series is a show hosted by former World Champion, Rich Franklin as he travels Asia and Australia looking for upcoming talent in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.
