Abdul Rahim Shaikh

Goan boy Abdul Rahim Shaikh is instrumental in bringing MMA to Goa and making it a household name. Four times National Champion, Abdul comes with a long list of national and international accolades. 27-year-old Rahim is the only Goan who currently holds the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt. Rahim has trained under the former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and is a passionate young man determined to bring MMA to its peak in Goa. He has brought the association to Goa facilitating young aspirants with all the tools required to learn the techniques and practice them. Rahim got candid with us about his journey so far.

How did you get into MMA?

The initial years of my life were spent in the Middle East. In 2010, I came back to Goa because my grandmother was ill. I found it difficult to get accustomed to Konkani because I had studied in an Arabic school. As a result, I was not doing well in school. On the advice of my cousin, I decided to take on a sport and make good use of the extra 30 marks we got in school upon participation in sports. The sport I chose was Judo and it gave me various combat styles to choose from. I got inclined towards MMA in Goa, as it is a sport with great intricacy and teaches not just fighting but how to avoid fights and that’s where my journey in MMA began.

Who is your role model?

I have two role models. The first is a Cuban American fighter, Jorge Masvidal. And my second role model is Khabib Nurmagomedov, a Russian fighter.

You’ve studied Mechanical Engineering. How did you balance both- your passion for MMA and your college schedule?

I got into a Mechanical Engineering college in Mangalore but I quit two years into my degree to focus on myself and my sport. My family was against this transition, but I had already made up my mind. I started fighting and won a couple of national championships. Then, I started my gym and here I am. I believe that consistency is the key. I believe in showing up every day, working hard, and not competing with others but competing solely with myself.

How have your experiences been in all the international tournaments you were a part of? In terms of the events and their organization, it was great! However, in India, it is more expensive to participate in this sport because of the registration fees and the living expenses for the duration of the event. But in international events, your expenses are, for the most part, taken care of by the event organisers themselves. This is one major difference between national and international events that I noticed.

Which was your most memorable fight?

My most memorable fight would be the fight in 2019 that I participated in under the banner of the IMMAF World Championship 2019. My opponent was a Lebanese fighter. I won this fight and was ranked 24th globally.

What are the various titles you have won?

I have won four of the five MMA national championships that I have participated in. I then got selected for the World Championship, which was held in Bahrain, this is called IMMAF (International Mixed Martial Arts Federation) World Championships. This is like the Olympics of MMA. I participated in the IMMAF twice and finished 24th in the world. I have also participated in Judo nationals, Kurash nationals, a combat style practised in Central Asia and I am also a serial champion in my state in Khurash, Judo, Wushu Sanda, and Grappling National Champion. Overall, I have 15 to 16 national events in all the sports combined. What made you choose the bantamweight category? I fight at 61.5 kg. A bantamweight category ranges from 57.2–61.2 kg. It gets its name from the bantam chickens, also called featherweights. MMA is all about making smart choices and making the best of the opportunities presented to you. I fight in this category because my body fits this category well, I am quick and dominant in this weight class. I have extra reach over other fighters fighting at bantamweight and this is where I have more of an advantage over my opponents.