India's first global mixed martial arts promoter, Kumite 1 League (K1L) was launched in Mumbai, on September 28. The league's ambassador and former USA boxing heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson was present at the event along with Sheikh Tahnoon, Prince of Abu Dhabi. The league will witness a clash of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters from eight countries.
Unlike the rest of MMA leagues, K1L will organise fights between teams rather than individuals. However, the first-ever K1L fight night will see the battle of 24 world class MMA athletes representing Team India and Team UAE.
Meanwhile, K1L will see its rollout by the second quarter of 2019 and the first fight night will be held on September 29 at NSCI, Dome in Worli, Mumbai. The fight night will also be telecasted live on SONY SIX & SONY SIX HD at 7:00 pm.
The boxing legend Mike Tyson who was present at the event stated,
“I’m very happy to be in India to launch Kumite 1 League. MMA is a fabulous discipline and it is very heartening to see the sport grow everywhere in the world. I’m told that MMA in India is yet to catch up and hope that Kumite 1 League will be the catalyst to the growth of this sport in this country.”
The promoter and CMD, Toyam Industries Ltd. Mohamedali Budhwani had conducted a research for four years and was the one who came up with the idea to introduce the Team Vs Team format of fighting. Talking about the future of the league, Budhwani stated that the first phase of the league will be initiated in just India and UAE and if everything goes well, then he indicated an expansion of the league.
While Tyson is excited about the league, he also expressed his desire to see the slums of Mumbai at Dharavi as he believes that all fighters are born in slums. The former boxing legend even stated that he too is from slums.
India's first global mixed martial arts promoter, Kumite 1 League (K1L) was launched in Mumbai, on September 28. The league's ambassador and former USA boxing heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson was present at the event along with Sheikh Tahnoon, Prince of Abu Dhabi. The league will witness a clash of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters from eight countries.
Unlike the rest of MMA leagues, K1L will organise fights between teams rather than individuals. However, the first-ever K1L fight night will see the battle of 24 world class MMA athletes representing Team India and Team UAE.
Meanwhile, K1L will see its rollout by the second quarter of 2019 and the first fight night will be held on September 29 at NSCI, Dome in Worli, Mumbai. The fight night will also be telecasted live on SONY SIX & SONY SIX HD at 7:00 pm.
The boxing legend Mike Tyson who was present at the event stated,
“I’m very happy to be in India to launch Kumite 1 League. MMA is a fabulous discipline and it is very heartening to see the sport grow everywhere in the world. I’m told that MMA in India is yet to catch up and hope that Kumite 1 League will be the catalyst to the growth of this sport in this country.”
The promoter and CMD, Toyam Industries Ltd. Mohamedali Budhwani had conducted a research for four years and was the one who came up with the idea to introduce the Team Vs Team format of fighting. Talking about the future of the league, Budhwani stated that the first phase of the league will be initiated in just India and UAE and if everything goes well, then he indicated an expansion of the league.
While Tyson is excited about the league, he also expressed his desire to see the slums of Mumbai at Dharavi as he believes that all fighters are born in slums. The former boxing legend even stated that he too is from slums.