Commissioned by Channel 4, Extreme Combat: The Dancer and The Fighter documented Akram entering a very different area: the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

Plunged into a realm of ultra-masculinity, Akram faced his fascination with aversion and physicality of violence by spending time with three British professional mixed martial artists in the weeks leading up to career defining fights.

Digging into what extent violence is intrinsic in human nature and in himself, he drew on this to create a dance piece to accompany one of the fighters on his walk out to the ring.