‘More girls are coming forward’: Puja Tomar on MMA’s growing popularity in India and what it will take to produce UFC fighters
Photo by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash
Puja Tomar, the first Indian woman to win a UFC bout, reflected on how the sport’s profile has exploded in India since her debut in June 2024. She notes a surge in girls taking up MMA, saying that “girls are coming forward and doing well” after a time when interest was limited. Tomar credits the growing popularity to the visibility of UFC events and her own victories, which she described as “amazing” and “a dream come true.”
The former champion stresses that grassroots support remains the biggest gap. “We need international coaches, proper conditioning, the right kind of diet and proper guidance on weight cuts,” she said. She plans to open an MMA academy that will train both men and women, with a special focus on creating a comfortable environment for girls. “If more academies and gyms open in India, with international coaches and experienced fighters sharing their knowledge, we can produce many UFC champions,” she added.
Tomar also urged the UFC to help build infrastructure, proposing an academy where Indian fighters could train alongside UFC athletes. “Professional fighters don’t get much support from the government. If there is a place where they can get everything they need right from the grassroots level, that would make a big difference,” she said.
Despite two recent losses and a family setback that delayed her training, Tomar remains determined to return to the Octagon. She is working on wrestling and jiu‑jitsu to become a complete fighter, saying every fight teaches her something new. Her goal is clear: to turn the growing interest in MMA into a pipeline that produces the next generation of Indian UFC stars.
