Anita Karim UFC selection breaks new ground as the Pakistani fighter joins The Ultimate Fighter Season 34 alongside legends Cormier and Bisping
Pakistan has never had a fighter on a stage like this before. Anita Karim has made history as the first Pakistani selected for The Ultimate Fighter Season 34. Therefore, her Anita Karim UFC selection places her on one of MMA’s most recognised talent platforms in the world. Moreover, TUF has historically served as the launchpad for some of the biggest careers in UFC history. For Pakistan, consequently, this moment carries weight far beyond a single fighter’s achievement.

The new season, titled Team Cormier vs. Team Bisping, premieres on June 14, 2026. UFC legends Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping will coach the two competing teams. Anita Karim features in the women’s strawweight group alongside a men’s bantamweight division. However, not all 20 selected fighters will officially compete. Only 16 will enter the competition, while four serve as alternates, two from each division. Still, Karim’s selection alone is a landmark achievement for Pakistani sport.
Karim enters with a professional record of 6 wins and 2 losses. She also carries the nickname “The Arm Collector,” a direct reference to her submission-heavy finishing style. Therefore, she arrives not as a symbolic pick but as a genuine competitor with real knockout and submission credentials. Furthermore, her international experience gives her an edge that many debutants on the show simply do not have.
For Pakistan, additionally, the significance of this selection extends well beyond the octagon. MMA remains a young and developing discipline in the country. Nevertheless, Karim has spent years building her career through discipline and determination. Her presence on TUF 34, therefore, puts Pakistani MMA in front of a global audience that may be discovering it for the very first time.
Finally, when Season 34 premieres on June 14, the world will get its first proper look at what Pakistan’s most historic MMA fighter can truly deliver on the biggest stage of her career.
Women’s Strawweight
| Fighter | Record | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Natalia Alves | 8-0 | Brazil |
| Melissa Amaya | 8-0 | United States |
| Delphine Benouaich | 7-2 | France |
| GiGi Canuto | 7-1 | Brazil/United States |
| Anita Karim | 6-2 | Pakistan |
| Valesca Machado | 15-4 | Brazil |
| Anna Melisano | 6-1 | United States |
| Camila Reynoso | 9-1 | Argentina |
| Mackenzie Stiller | 6-1 | United States |
| Hailai Wushamo | 10-2 | Argentina |












