LAHORE: The Real World Fight League (RWFL) continues to redefine youth engagement in combat sports, offering Pakistan’s Gen Z a structured and safe platform to translate inspiration from action films, cartoons, and video games into real-world athletic achievement.
The recently concluded Real World Fight League, Winter Wars Edition, held at Brave Gym Lahore, marked six years of the league’s steady contribution to the development of mixed martial arts (MMA) in Pakistan. Sanctioned by the Pakistan MMA Federation, the event brought together student-athletes from leading educational institutions, including LGS, Aitchison College, Government College University (GCU), Beaconhouse National University (BNU), and the International School of Lahore, alongside fighters from Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi, reflecting the league’s expanding national footprint.
The competition featured around ten professionally supervised bouts conducted under strict safety protocols, highlighting the league’s emphasis on discipline, training standards, and athlete welfare.
One of the evening’s standout moments was the highly anticipated women’s bout, where Romessa, a BNU media student and Brave Gym athlete, secured a commanding victory over Pakistan’s national gold medal-winning boxer after three intense rounds. The contest drew significant crowd attention and underscored the growing presence of women in Pakistan’s MMA landscape.
Among other notable performances, Iman Zahra from the International School of Lahore demonstrated exceptional resilience, while the main event saw Ramzan and Affan, representing Superior University and GCU, deliver a gripping five-round contest that concluded the event on a high note. Competitive matchups between fighters from Lahore and Islamabad further highlighted the sport’s increasing depth and inter-city rivalry.
Speaking at the event, Pakistan MMA Federation President Omar Ahmed said the concept behind Real World Fight was rooted in giving young people an opportunity to test their courage and resilience in a controlled and disciplined environment. He emphasized that beyond competition, participants develop confidence, work ethic, leadership skills, humility, and the ability to confront challenges, qualities that extend well beyond sport.
Ahmed noted that many participants eventually transition into professional careers and leadership roles, creating a positive societal ripple effect. Drawing parallels with Pakistan’s tape-ball cricket culture, he expressed confidence that MMA could similarly evolve into a major sporting ecosystem with strong commercial and cultural significance.
The league’s growth has also been credited to the dedication and long-term vision of Qaim Abbas, whose work alongside the Brave Gym mentorship system has played a central role in building and sustaining the platform over the past six years.
As the Real World Fight League prepares to enter its seventh year, it continues to bridge the gap between inspiration and opportunity, offering Pakistan’s youth a pathway toward discipline, character building, and responsible citizenship through sport.
