Imphal: Manipur will host a two-day mixed martial arts (MMA) fight night in early April, with professional bouts scheduled for April 4.
The event titled “Manipur Pride MMA: The Rise of Warriors 1” has been planned to showcase Manipur’s MMA talent and provide a platform for amateur athletes to display their skills to a wider audience.
Organised by BonJovi MMA and Fitness, the programme will open on April 3 with amateur contests, followed by professional fights on the second day.
“This event will not only feature athletes from the State but also renowned MMA fighters from across the Northeast,” Professional MMA fighter Nongmaithem Bonjovi said.
Highlighting the challenges faced by MMA athletes in Manipur, Bonjovi noted that while the state has abundant talent, a lack of proper support and structured platforms has forced many athletes to let their skills go to waste. “This event aims to address those challenges and serve as a stepping stone to bigger opportunities for the fighters,” he said.
Event director Rangam Chiru said, “The idea is to bridge the gap between amateur circuits and professional MMA, while also creating opportunities for fighters to move on to national and international tournaments.”
Organisers said fighter screening and selection would be conducted about a week ahead of the event, with both amateur and professional athletes set to feature on the fight card.
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They added that the April fight night highlights the rising popularity of mixed martial arts in Manipur—a state nationally recognised for producing boxers and other combat sports athletes—and signals the gradual growth of organised MMA in the region.
