Watch: Anita Karim, Pakistan’s trailblazing MMA fighter breaking barriers and bones

ISLAMABAD: Growing up in the rugged northern reaches of Pakistan, Anita Karim honed her combat skills fighting with three older brothers who pulled no punches.

The bruising experience prepared her for a career in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) - blending Thai kickboxing, Japanese judo and wrestling - and she is now the nation's pre-eminent woman fighter.

"The village where I come from, they support women fighters," she told AFP. "But when I started MMA, they had no awareness of this sport."

"They said it's a men's game exclusively and a woman cannot do that one," the 28-year-old said.

Eight years ago she won the right to enter the ring, swiftly becoming Pakistan's first internationally competing woman MMA fighter and appearing in Asia's biggest promotion, ONE Championship.