India, Jan. 4 -- Manipur will host a two-day mixed martial arts (MMA) fight night in early April, with professional bouts scheduled for April 4, as part of an initiative to provide a competitive platform for fighters from the Northeast.

The event, titled "Manipur Pride MMA: The Rise of Warriors 1," is being organised by BonJovi MMA and Fitness. Organisers said the programme will open on April 3 with amateur contests, followed by professional fights on the second day.

Addressing a press conference here, event director Rangam Chiru said the focus is on giving Manipur-based fighters exposure to structured and high-level competition, which many currently lack.

"The idea is to bridge the gap between amateur circuits and professional MMA, wh...