Although not widely recognized for its involvement in combat sports, Bangladesh, a country known for its high population density, seems to be venturing into the realm of MMA. Leading the charge for his nation is Shajidul Haque, the current Cage Warriors flyweight champion, determined to make a mark in this domain.
The early onset of a career in Mixed Martial Arts
Shajidul has always been interested in Martial Arts from the very start as far as he can recall. He says: “As a child I used to love watching Power Rangers, Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali. I actually began training in Martial Arts at the age of 14, starting with Kickboxing and then transitioned to MMA after a few years.”
He also credits his brother for being the wind beneath his wings. “My brother Shamsul Haque, got me into the sport when we were kids and has gone from being my training partner, to now my coach. He is a little older and I learned many lessons from him and his career that allowed me to succeed where he did not.”
Elaborating on the ups and downs of his professional life, he explains the fickle nature of professional fighting as a career: “When you’re winning and climbing through the ranks everything is great. People are rooting for you, you get nice messages, sponsors interviews, etc. but one loss can knock you all the way back down, to be forgotten.”
“Throughout my career, I have experienced being at the top and also dropping all the way back down, having to pick myself back up. I have learned many life lessons and skills which have improved me as a Coach.”
He debuted in Cage Warriors 52 during just his second professional bout, accumulating a record of 5-1 in consecutive fights. He is also the head coach at ACE MMA.
A decade of hard work to achieve the ultimate goal
After a challenging journey spanning nearly a decade, Shajidul achieved the pinnacle of Cage Warriors. He faced Sam Creasey at Cage Warriors 148 in December 2022 and achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first-ever Bangladeshi MMA world champion.
He said: “Winning the Flyweight World Title was one of my big Career goals, and I was able to achieve this after many years of hard work. Since winning, I have had great support from my local community and the Bangladeshi community. It has been great hearing from some Bangladeshi youths about how I have inspired them.”
Haque safeguard his flyweight championship against Italian fighter, Michele Martignoni, at Cage Warriors 158 on July 29, 2023. “Defending the World Title, allowed me to feel like a true Champion and showed the world that I was not just lucky the first time. I believe it has established me as the best Flyweight in Europe outside the UFC and I hope I get an opportunity to show my skills in the UFC”, Shajidul expressed.
“Professional sport is not a quick fix, it’s a lifestyle commitment”
Advising South Asian youth who want to commit to combat sports, Shajidul advised, “The most important thing is to enjoy the training. If you do not enjoy it then it is not worth pursuing a career in it.
“To be a professional in the sport, there is no quick fix, it is a lifestyle commitment. It is not just the training but also your daily life. You have to eat well, sleep on time, stay focused, reflect on your training, etc. The key is to be disciplined in your health and always look to improve your skill set. You can always show off the progress you’ve made but don't keep looking for approval.
“The bottom line is, if your skills are not good enough you will be exposed to competition. Therefore do not try to make a name for yourself until you actually have the skills to back it up. “
Career goals as Shajidul defends his first championship title
Talking about his long-term and short-term career goals, Shajidul said: “I hope to get a chance in the UFC and test myself with the best in the world, as I strongly believe I am better than a lot of those already signed.
“However, my goal as a Martial Artist and Athlete has always been to become the best version of myself. In the long run, no matter what I achieve in my career, I aim to coach other athletes to achieve more than myself.”
The diaspora lags behind in their representation in combat sports
Shajidul feels that sometimes, the mindset of a community makes them susceptible to fearing anything out of the ordinary and limits them to a comfort zone.
“Growing up, I myself had people advise me not to 'waste' too much time doing sport and to pursue a stable career. People assume sports, in general, do not lead to a stable job or career, when in reality you learn many skills in sports that transfer over to other jobs.
“I think in the Bangladeshi community there is also a misconception that Bangladeshis are genetically inferior for combat sports. I have heard people say things like we are too small and not made for it etc. There is also a fear of injury.”
“My experiences have helped me focus on my goals”
According to Shajidul, the cultural heritage of the Bangladeshi community is all about being grateful and resilient. Being a part of a big, minority family that didn’t have much, he has always been grateful for what he had and became more resilient to achieve what he wanted.
“I think that the experiences I had growing up helped me stay focused on what I was doing. For instance, even if I lost a little interest in Martial arts, I would still continue to train it and not give up.
