Puja Tomar Creates History, Becomes First Indian to Win in The UFC

Add as a preferred source on Google

Puja Tomar created history on Sunday (June 9) after she defeated Brazil's Rayanne dos Santos in UFC Louisville 2024: Cannonier vs. Imavov to become the first Indian to win in the MMA promotion.

Uttar Pradesh native Tomar, who is the first Indian woman fight in the Octagon, marked her UFC debut in the UFC Louisville opener with a split decision win over the Brazilian.

In the opening round of the women's strawweight bout, Tomar utilized heavy kicks to the body to keep dos Santos on the outside. Over the next two rounds, however, dos Santos was the one pressing forward, leaving Tomar to counter while moving backwards.

The two upped the output and intensity late in the fight, leaving the outcome in doubt when the final horn sounded as the 115-pound fighters went the distance with Tomar edging dos Santon on the judges scorecards.

"This win is for all Indian fans and all Indian fighters," Cyclone Tomar said after landing India's first win in the UFC. "Before everyone thought that Indian fighters did not stand anywhere.

"I only thought I have to win and show the World that Indian fighters are not losers. No pressure but I just thought I have to win," she added.

The former Matrix Fight Night champion Tomar, who also fought in ONE Championship, had announced about her contract with the UFC in October 2023. She had taken to social media to to X to reveal the news about her UFC contract, thanking MFN and its president, Ayesha Shroff for the feat.

Earlier, Bharat Kandare and Road to UFC contract winner Anshul Jubli had represented India in the UFC, but the duo failed to win. Jubli lost to Mike Breeden via third-round knockout at UFC 294 in October 2023.

Khandare, meanwhile, had lost to Song Yadong by first-round submission in a Fight Night event, and was later suspended for two years after he was flagged by USADA for prohibited substances.