Pakistan’s first female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, Anita Karim, has been forced to miss her scheduled fight in Abu Dhabi due to visa issues.
Karim was set to compete at UAE Warriors 67 on January 31. She had trained for several months and completed an intense training camp for the bout, which was fully organized and was expected to be her second fight within three weeks.
Despite her preparation and commitment, she was unable to travel due to unresolved visa issues.
Karim shared the news on her X account, calling it a sad moment. “I was scheduled to fight on 31st (January) in UAE Warriors 67 in Abu Dhabi. Despite months of preparation and a fully organized bout, I am currently unable to participate due to visa issues,” she said.
A sad state of affair for any Pakistani athlete but it is what it is. I would like extend my gratitude and thank my sponsors AT Farms and Hunza Oxadine for having my back during this critical time pic.twitter.com/qgAkBkWqWQ
— Anita Karim (@karimanitamma) January 26, 2026
She said administrative delays at such a critical stage affect more than just a single event. According to Karim, these delays disrupt an athlete’s career, momentum, and opportunity to represent the country on an international platform.
She added that the demanding schedule required her to go beyond normal limits in training, recovery, and preparation.
Karim’s manager, Yasir Mushtaq, said event organizers set a deadline and waited nearly a week for the visa. When it was not issued within the given time, they replaced Karim with another fighter.
Mushtaq urged authorities to take notice of the matter and called on Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to intervene. He said visa-related challenges should be resolved to protect the MMA fighter’s career and allow it to continue at the international level.
