How Habib’s MMA Academy in Kamrangirchar is transforming combat sports scene
In the heart of Kamrangirchar, a dilapidated building houses a dream. A man named Habib Parves is training a new generation of fighters to defy stereotypes. At his academy, grit and ambition clash with poverty and prejudice, as young athletes fight for recognition—both in the ring and within their own country
"Bangladeshis can never do MMA. This sport isn't for them." These words changed Habib Parves' life. He heard them while competing in an MMA tournament in India, where the comment stung as an outright dismissal of his abilities.
But rather than breaking him, it fuelled his determination. Upon returning to Bangladesh, Habib started working with rock-solid determination to introduce MMA in his own country, train fighters, and produce athletes capable of competing internationally.
But who exactly is Habib Parves? He is the founder and head of Habib's MMA Academy, located in a dilapidated building in Kamrangirchar, Dhaka. Over fifty enthusiastic young men come here regularly—their eyes shining with dreams of representing their country through MMA.
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Despite MMA being well-established globally, it remains relatively unknown in Bangladesh. Yet Habib, as the general secretary of the All Bangladesh National Mixed Martial Art Association (ABNMMAA), is working tirelessly to promote the sport nationwide.
How it all began
When asked why he came into MMA, Habib shared, "I was always very restless as a child, what you might call very fidgety. I started with football, but I used my hands as much as my feet, which often got me into trouble on the field. Later, I decided to learn Karate, and that's where it all began. After Karate, I transitioned to Taekwondo, and eventually, MMA became my path."
Habib has always felt that traditional martial arts like Karate or Taekwondo lack a certain element—what he calls the 'real fight'. That's what he found in MMA, which inspired him to pursue it seriously.
"I started my journey in martial arts with Karate for self-defence," he explained. "I transitioned to Taekwondo from Karate. Later, I started practising Wushu competitively and even won a gold medal. But I always found my skill set limited, especially in grappling. From that point on, I took MMA lessons from Liton Halder and achieved success while competing in India."
Thanks to Habib's training, Bangladeshi fighters are now making a name for themselves in the subcontinent's MMA scene.
MMA—the sport, the science, the philosophy
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has gained global popularity over the last decade. Its rise has encouraged people to take martial arts as a hobby or career, with the hope of leading a healthier, more disciplined life.
MMA combines multiple combat disciplines, focusing on three core components: striking, grappling, and submission. Punches, kicks, chokeholds, armbars, and kimuras are just the surface of the offensive techniques. Defence—parrying, dodging, weaving, submission defence, and leg kick checks—is equally emphasised.
In Bangladesh, MMA's popularity surged following UFC 229, the iconic match between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor for the undisputed lightweight championship. Even beyond Khabib's fame, a growing fan base tunes into Sony Six every Sunday to watch weekly UFC events, either fight nights or pay-per-view bouts.
Funds are quite scarce, making it difficult to get good quality equipment and dedicated foreign coaches for the fighters. Potential fighters need financial security. If big organisations come forward with sponsorship, then I believe our fighters will be able to carry Bangladesh onto the world stage.
Apart from UFC, promotions like Bellator and ONE FC also host competitive fights. Even without pursuing a professional career, MMA offers immense benefits: grappling, punching, and kicking develop strength and conditioning, while a mixed regimen drastically improves cardiovascular fitness. Mentally, MMA teaches strategy, resilience, and discipline, aligning with one of the oldest branches of philosophy—the philosophy of fighting.
Following international trends, MMA is now slowly being incorporated into gym workouts across Bangladesh. One of the pioneers of this movement is Habib's MMA Academy, located inside the Biddut office in Kamrangirchar. Habib, a professional MMA fighter turned trainer with a record of 3-2-0, has created a training ground for a new generation of fighters.
Four of the five fighters Habib mentored won their bouts at the Boom Open Asia Championships 2019 in India. A year later, three of the four participating fighters from Habib's MMA Academy—Md Hussain Kobir, Md Rayhan, and Md Amranul Foysal—also won at the Soul of Warriors Bangladesh vs India Championships.
Dreams, struggles, and the fight for recognition
One of Habib's most dedicated fighters is Moonjur Alam (24), who has practised MMA for over a decade. Moonjur has competed both nationally and internationally, earning recognition within Bangladesh's MMA community. "I live in Dhaka solely for MMA. I've been at Habib's MMA Academy since 2018. Habib Parves is my guru in everything," he said.
Moonjur comes from Meherpur and lives alone in Dhaka. When asked whether MMA can support his family financially, he replied, "Personally, I'm now involved with several brands and have sponsors. After winning a few fights abroad, I've gained recognition and am gradually progressing financially. But not everyone is that fortunate. Many struggle a lot, because MMA is still not popular here. Sponsorships are limited."
Middle-class parents in Bangladesh often discourage children from pursuing sports, except perhaps cricket or football. Individual games like chess, badminton, or tennis are sometimes acceptable. But MMA? A child declaring, "I want to be a fighter and play MMA," often faces family opposition—sometimes even the threat of being kicked out.
Some fighters, like Arefin (pseudonym), practice secretly. "At home, they think I come here for fitness. If they knew I was training to fight professionally, they wouldn't allow me," he admitted. Reasons are obvious: most parents have little knowledge of MMA, associate it with high injury risk, and worry about financial prospects.
Financial constraints also discourage many aspiring fighters. Habib explained, "Even after practising for a few months, some give up. Look at how MMA is played around the world—fighters earn a lot, even in regional bouts. In Bangladesh, a fight pays 5,000–10,000 taka. How can someone live on that or support their family?"
Running his academy is also a struggle. "I earn barely 6,000–7,000 taka a month. The electricity bill alone is 5,000. Add other expenses, and I spend from my own pocket. I have other income sources, otherwise it wouldn't be possible. But where is financial security for those who truly want to master this sport?"
Despite these challenges, Habib continues to expand MMA in Bangladesh. Under the Bangladesh MMA Association, 12 clubs have been established across 8 divisional cities, introducing the sport to young enthusiasts. Fighters from these clubs also participate in bouts abroad—in Thailand, Malaysia, and India. Habib is confident: within a few years, MMA will become the first choice for young athletes. His enthusiasm matches his nickname—The FireBird.
The future of MMA in Bangladesh
The MMA scene in Bangladesh has achieved success despite the scarce attention and funding it receives. By contrast, Western MMA is heavily funded by mega-corporations, helping athletes thrive. Bangladesh needs similar corporate support to elevate its fighters onto the global stage. "Funds are quite scarce, making it difficult to get good quality equipment and dedicated foreign coaches for the fighters'', said Habib.
Even Habib's own academy lacks proper facilities. Training takes place with only a handful of equipment—three pairs of gloves, a few punching pads, two punching bags, and a few other miscellaneous tools. Day after day, the fighters practise with the same limited resources. MMA equipment is also far beyond what most can afford. As a result, the young, ambitious fighters at the academy are compelled to develop their skills within these constraints.
Habib also stresses the importance of women's participation. "The participation of women in MMA is also important to promote diversity among the masses."
For Habib, MMA is more than a sport; it is a movement. Despite financial and societal hurdles, he continues to nurture talent, hoping to create world-class fighters who can represent Bangladesh internationally.
Closing on a note of vision and conviction, Habib said, "Potential fighters need financial security. If big organisations come forward with sponsorship, then I believe our fighters will be able to carry Bangladesh onto the world stage."
