Abdul Azim Badakhshi spoke about his professional career, personal life and the challenges he faced in India, including his detention over immigration-related issues. He also discussed the support he received from his fiancée, Krishna Shroff, during a difficult period. Badakhshi shared these details in an interview with BBC Persian.
Afghan mixed martial arts fighter Abdul Azim Badakhshi says he was detained in India for about a week over immigration-related issues shortly before making a dramatic return to competition, ending an 18-month absence with a submission victory in just 20 seconds.
Badakhshi returned to competition in Hyderabad, India, after roughly a year and a half away from professional fights. He faced Belarusian fighter Artem Buloychik and secured victory by submission with an anaconda choke in just 19 seconds, according to MMA records. The win took his professional record to 15 victories and five defeats.
The swift victory marked a powerful comeback for the Afghan fighter, who has built a reputation for his aggressive fighting style and finishing ability. Badakhshi has competed in several major MMA promotions and has previously represented Afghanistan in combat sports.
But his career has also been interrupted by serious challenges outside the sport. Badakhshi has previously spent time in an Indian prison following a 2022 post-fight altercation with Indian fighter Srikant Sekhar. The incident resulted in a lengthy legal battle and kept him away from competition for an extended period.
Despite those setbacks, Badakhshi has repeatedly returned to the cage. His latest victory came after another period away from competition and amid the immigration difficulties he says he experienced in India.
Badakhshi has also spoken publicly about his relationship with Krishna Shroff, the daughter of Indian actor Jackie Shroff and sister of actor Tiger Shroff. He has said that Shroff supported him during difficult periods of his life in India. Their relationship has attracted considerable attention in Indian entertainment and sports media.
Known as the “Afghan Lion,” Badakhshi began his sporting career in boxing and wushu before moving into MMA. His career has included competitions in Afghanistan, India, Bahrain and Russia, and he has established himself as one of Afghanistan’s better-known MMA fighters.
MMA combines techniques from disciplines including boxing, wrestling, judo, karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Fighters can win through knockout, submission or judges’ decisions, making the sport one of the most demanding forms of modern combat competition.
For Badakhshi, however, the latest victory represents more than another entry on his professional record. After years marked by competition, legal problems, detention and immigration challenges, his 20-second comeback has given the Afghan fighter a chance to rebuild his career and return his focus to the sport.
