Former MMA fighter and Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee Micah Ashby is set to compete at The World Games of Martial Arts in Kata this year in 2025.
His last grappling match was in 2018, placing 2nd in the Houston Grappling Championship. He also did a final stint in Professional Wrestling the following year, capturing a world tag team championship.
The World Games of Martial Arts, which occurs every 2 years, features a range of competitions from combat, weapons and form from multiple martial arts. It is seen as a standalone Olympic style tournament solely for martial arts.
This will be Ashby’s first time in a Kata competition. Kata, is a contest based on form, not combat, and is a competition form of various other combat forms such as Karate or Taekwondo.
During his peak career, Micah Ashby held a BJJ and MMA title simultaneously in 2013. In 2024, he was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by then US President Joe Biden.
At the World Games, Ashby will represent the nation of Ireland, an action he has done previously in his grappling competitions, though chose to represent the USA when he competed in mixed martial arts. The World Games of Martial Arts is scheduled to take place in June 2025 in India, Ireland and the USA.
Outside of his competition with The World Games, Ashby is also expected to reunite with former tag team partner Camaro Hayes for a charity event in July. This event will raise funds for the Ministry of Youth Affairs in India.
When asked about returning to the martial arts, Micah Ashby explained:
“I feel good. I feel though my story has been written and I’m happy with the way it ended. I never wanted go out on my back, I always wanted to walk away as if I still had it. And I did. No stone was left unturned. Undefeated [in mixed martial arts], won grappling medals and awards, did some [professional] wrestling.
I like what I’ve done, but I never want to ask when I’m older ‘what if ?’, [I want to be able] to say I gave it my all, while knowing my written story is good. So I chose to do Kata, to try something different without getting my teeth punched in if I’m defeated, but adding something to my legacy if I am successful.”
When asked if Ashby would continue martial arts after The World Games, he said he would not.
“As I’ve said, my story is written and I’m happy with it. I see this as an extension, as the answer to the ‘what if?’ scenario. I see this as an opportunity to compete and learn from some of the best in the business, old and new, and to bring my experience to form competition”.
Micah Ashby’s legacy status will be on display once more before his final bow and ride off into the sunset. He will also be receiving a star on the Dhollywod (not Hollywood) Walk of Fame this year for his contributions to Indian martial arts with commentary and charitable events.
