I was on track to becoming rugby league star… now I’m making my way in different sport mentored by British legend

HAIDER KHAN looked set for a career playing rugby league - now he is out to become MMA world champion with the help of a boxing legend.

Khan played semi-professional for Salford Red Devils’ academy and was on the brink of joining their professional ranks.

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But by 18, he fell out of love with the sport he had played since five years old and instead found a new passion in martial arts.

Khan told SunSport: "I decided to stop playing rugby.

“I was in the Salford Academy, and I kind of just got bored of playing rugby, like I never loved the sport.

"I was just a good athlete and good at the sport. And I thought I'm gonna take up MMA and that's pretty much what I did because my family was already into it.

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"I thought this is a great opportunity, something that I enjoy watching, so I gave it a try."

Khan walked away from the chance to play in the Super League - which is aired on Sky Sports.

He said: "At the time I was signed to the academy, so I was literally one step away from playing first team rugby on Sky Sports Super League.

"I was just in the academy for one of the teams, Salford Red Devils, at the time.

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"But I just didn't enjoy it as much as I did when I was younger, never loved the sport to that extent. I watched more football than I ever did watch rugby league.

"I was just good at the sport and I enjoyed playing it, but it wasn't like an obsession like I have with martial arts."

While Khan’s old team-mates and opponents made it in rugby league, he was just forging a career in MMA after being inspired by legends like Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko.

And he has also been getting tips from British boxing icon Amir Khan - who is also of Pakistani descent.

Now the middleweight is 8-1 after making his pro debut in 2021 and signed to the Professional Fighters League.

Khan instead returns on Saturday in Dubai against Mostafa Abada Rashed Neda and boxing great Amir will be cageside to support.

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