Puja Tomar Becomes 1st Indian MMA Fighter To Win A Fight In UFC

Indian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Puja Tomar made history by achieving a remarkable feat at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Born in Budhana village in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Puja Tomar is a five-time national wushu champion with a background in karate and taekwondo. ( Image Source :X/@ufc )

Indian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Puja Tomar etched her place in history by achieving a commendable feat at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in Louisville, USA, on June 9 (Sunday). Tomar became the first Indian fighter to secure a victory in the history of UFC. The 28-year-old accomplished this milestone by narrowly defeating Brazilian fighter Rayanne dos Santos in a 52 kg bout, winning by a split decision with scores of 30-27, 27-30, and 29-28.

Coming From Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Puja Tomar had already made history last year by becoming the first Indian woman to secure a UFC contract. In her debut fight in the women's strawweight division, she triumphed by split decision with scores of 30-27, 27-30, and 29-28.

The match was a closely fought one where both fighters showcased their strengths. Puja dominated the first round with powerful body kicks that landed cleanly on dos Santos. In the second round, dos Santos took the upper hand, constantly advancing and forcing Puja to counter while moving backwards. The final round was evenly matched, but Puja's decisive push kick knockdown secured her the victory.

Here's Puja Tomar's Winning Moment

DEBUT DUBS 🙌

Puja Tomar takes the split decision at #UFCLouisville 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/IMYkYlcDKj

— UFC (@ufc) June 8, 2024

Born in Budhana village in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Puja Tomar is a five-time national wushu champion with a background in karate and taekwondo. Fondly known as "Cyclone" Puja, she has also competed in other tournaments, including Matrix Fight Night, where she won the strawweight title twice.

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After winning her debut fight in the UFC, Puja Tomar said, “I am feeling really good. I came to (UFC Louisville) thinking that I have to win this fight. Amazing. I feel amazing. It was good that I was fighting, but that walking song of mine was for my country India. I was representing India on the world stage with the tricolour.”

I spoke to Puja Tomar after she became the first Indian to win in the UFC! 🇮🇳#UFCLouisville | @SonySportsNetwk pic.twitter.com/doJBpis7AY

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) June 8, 2024