How Karate Combat Champion Shahzaib Rind is inspiring Pakistan

When it comes to combat sports, Pakistani representation is not that prominent but Shahzaib Rind is gradually changing that.

At just 26, he is already a trailblazer as he is Pakistan’s first world champion in combat sports.

‘King Khan’ fights in Karate Combat where he is the organisation’s Lightweight Champion.

Originally from the Balochistan province of Pakistan, Rind’s venture into martial arts began with Wushu.

He quickly ended up becoming Pakistan’s number one-ranked Wushu fighter.

Rind’s combined Wushu and Kickboxing record is 75-4, the majority of which was attained while training himself from YouTube videos.

He has now taken his fighting form to the next level by training under Asim Zaidi at the renowned Goat Shed gym in Miami, Florida.

Shahzaib Rind now fights under the Karate Combat banner where his stardom has increased, skyrocketing when he became world champion.

Internationally, he is perhaps not quite a household name but in Pakistan, his accomplishments are well known.

Let’s delve into Shahzaib Rind’s career and how his success is putting Pakistani combat sports on the map.

What is Karate Combat?

Karate Combat is a professional full-contact combat sports league that brings traditional karate into a modern, high-octane competitive format.

Unlike point-based karate tournaments, Karate Combat features continuous fighting with full-contact strikes, allowing punches, kicks, and sweeps in a fast-paced environment.

The league was founded in 2018 to showcase karate as a spectator-friendly sport while preserving its martial arts essence.

Fights take place in the Karate Combat Pit, a unique, sloped-walled arena that enhances movement and creates an intense, cinematic experience for viewers.

With minimal ground fighting and a focus on striking, the league emphasises aggressive, stand-up battles.

Karate Combat has attracted world-class athletes, including Olympic and national champions, and combines traditional martial arts with innovative visuals and digital backdrops for a video game-like presentation.

Its growing popularity makes it a key player in the global combat sports scene.

Becoming Champion

Shahzaib Rind’s Karate Combat career got off to a steady start, racking up wins by unanimous decision.

He made waves in 2023 with his viral knockout of Federico Avella.

Rind continued to attract eyeballs with his knockout wins, including a vicious victory over India’s Rana Singh.

His biggest victory came in September 2024 when he fought Bruno Roberto De Assis in Singapore.

It was a gruelling battle and Rind was dropped a couple of times in the first round. But he pushed through the adversity.

Fatigue soon began to take its toll on De Assis.

Ground-and-pound to an exhausted De Assis in the third round forced the referee to stop the bout and Rind became the Interim Karate Combat Lightweight Champion, a historic moment for him and Pakistan.

After the fight, Rind explained that he had been training a long time for this moment, stating:

“When I step into the pit, I forget everything. When I’m here, I’m prepared to die.”

Watch Shahzaib Rind’s Fight against Bruno Roberto De Assis

He was expected to fight Luiz Victor Rocha to unify the belts but a cancelled bout and Rocha’s subsequent move to bantamweight saw Rind promoted to undisputed champion.

Rind defended his title against former champion Edgars Skrivers in January 2025, taking the Pakistani fighter’s Karate Combat record to 7-0.

Pakistan’s 1st Combat Sports World Champion

Pakistan has had combat sports champions, with Hussain Shah winning a bronze medal in boxing at the 1988 Olympics and Muhammad Waseem clinching the WBC Silver flyweight title in 2016.

But Shahzaib Rind is Pakistan’s first world champion in combat sports.

Rind is proud to be the first Pakistani world champion and hopes to inspire young Pakistani martial artists.

He told MMA Junkie: “I’m the first Pakistani world champion. I made history and became a two-time world champion.

“You saw the flags that were all in that arena because I’m representing my country.

“There are a lot of fighters who just fight for themselves. But I am here for my country.

“I am here to represent my country and I’m here to show the world, the Pakistani people and the fighters from Pakistan, we are not less than anyone. We can do anything.

“In Pakistan, in sports in general, we do not have a lot of athletes and we do not have a lot of big names.

“So it was my dream, when I came to America, my first dream, to become a Pakistani world champion and represent my country all over the world and show the world we have talent.

“We have a lot of talent. We can do anything. It’s a big message for everyone, especially for the youngsters.”

“They think because some people say Pakistan is not a very developed country. Yes, that is true.

“But we have a lot of talent. We have a lot of talent to offer. That’s why you saw a lot of Pakistani people. They are so emotionally connected with me because I’m their fighter and they love me.

“All the time, if I go fight in Singapore, if I fight in any corner of the world, they will be here and they will support me always.”

Becoming a Pakistani Superstar

Shahzaib Rind admitted the attention from Pakistan has been surprising and humbling.

He has always had support from his home country but it went up a level when he became champion.

On what happened when he returned to the locker room to get his phone, Rind said:

“Everyone was messaging me: the president of Pakistan, the prime minister of Pakistan, the chief minister.

“Everybody is telling me congratulating me, tweeting me. It was a big thing. It was just a dream. Everyone was calling me. I just blew up.”

Things got even bigger when he returned to Pakistan.

“I went back to Pakistan and had no idea when I went to the airport I saw thousands of people were watching and waiting for me at the airport.

“It was early in the morning. The chief minister, the head of the state was there. All of the politicians were there. The roads were blocked for me. Everyone was waiting because I was about to cross the road.

“The city was totally blocked and it was such an amazing experience. I never had an experience like this.

“Everyone was coming to take selfies with me. They were so happy. It was a big thing for them and me too.

“We won the world title. It’s the biggest thing one can ever imagine. It was such an amazing experience.

“This thing gives me more motivation to become the greatest of all time. This is just the beginning. We have a long way to go.”

Crossing Over to MMA

Despite Shahzaib Rind’s Karate Combat success, he eventually plans to make his way over to MMA, which continues to rapidly grow in popularity.

But despite his eagerness to test his skills in MMA, Rind has conditions.

He wants his first MMA fight to take place in the Karate Combat Pit rather than a cage.

Shahzaib Rind said: “Yeah, I have a great idea about MMA.

“I’d love to fight in MMA because I want to… show the world what my skills are. I can do anything.

“I’m the best representation of Karate Combat, so I want to fight in MMA – but in Karate Combat.

“It’s going to be something new. In Karate Combat, you see the Karate Combat Pit. It’s different.”

“If you fight there with a former UFC world champion or whoever is best in MMA, I can fight them in the Karate Combat pit and it’s going to be amazing.

“In the Karate Combat pit, MMA is going to be nasty because we don’t have anywhere to run. It’s a pit and you can do a lot of stuff. It’s going to be an amazing thing.”

Shahzaib Rind’s rise from the streets of Balochistan to becoming a Karate Combat world champion is a story of grit, passion, and unrelenting determination.

His triumph is not just a personal victory—it’s a beacon of hope for countless aspiring athletes across Pakistan.

By breaking new ground in the world of combat sports, Rind is putting Pakistan on the map.

As he continues to inspire a new generation of fighters, one thing is certain: this is just the beginning of Shahzaib Rind’s incredible legacy.