Haider Khan, a 25-year-old MMA fighter from Oldham, is aiming to become the world UFC champion.
Raised in the Glodwick estate, Khan studied Politics and International Relations at university and began training in MMA at the age of 18, Asian Image reported.
He has since mastered kickboxing, jujitsu, boxing, and wrestling, and recently clinched the Full Contact Contender (FCC) middleweight world title.
“As a professional I have won eight fights and lost one. In my latest fight I faced a Brazilian and I defeated him in the second round to claim the middleweight title,” said Khan, a Manchester Metropolitan university graduate.
“My faith keeps me grounded and it helps me to see things clearly as there is more to life than fighting,” he added.
Haider Khan trains every day of the week, three times a day, including grappling sessions and fitness training.
As the first British-Pakistani champion in the world of MMA, his ambition is to win the world UFC title.
Khan said he wants to inspire and help people, acknowledging that MMA is a difficult sport but, like anything in life, it has its ups and downs.
“My message to young people is to pursue something you love, and it doesn’t have to be sports. When you truly love something, it is easier to get out of bed and pursue your dreams“, Khan said.
“Being a professional fighter has been hard. It doesn’t have the glory that people think,” he added.
