For years, Indian MMA fans waited for a moment that felt impossible: an Indian flag raised in the UFC cage after a win. That moment finally arrived on June 15, 2024, and it came down to a single judge’s scorecard. *Puja “The Cyclone” Tomar* from Budhana, Uttar Pradesh, defeated Brazil’s Rayanne dos Santos by split decision in Louisville, becoming the first Indian-born fighter — male or female — to win inside the UFC. It was not a knockout or a dominant finish, but in a sport where India had never tasted victory before, one point was everything.
Her journey there was anything but straight. Built on a foundation of wushu, rebuilt through domestic titles, and tested by early setbacks, Tomar now stands as India’s biggest reference point in global MMA, even as her UFC record sits at a hard-fought 1-2.
From Wushu Mats To ONE Championship-
Puja Tomar didn’t start in MMA. She built her athletic base in wushu, a Chinese martial art that teaches striking, takedowns, and discipline. That background gave her the footwork and timing that would later define her stand-up game.
She turned pro in 2016 and quickly signed with ONE Championship, Asia’s biggest promotion, between 2017 and 2020. It was a brutal learning curve. Facing more experienced international competition early, she struggled to find rhythm and went on a losing streak. By 2020, she was back in India, with a record that didn’t yet reflect her potential.
Instead of quitting, Tomar reset. She went back to the Indian circuit, sharpened her wrestling and clinch work, and started putting wins together.
Rebuilding At Home: Matrix Fight Night Champion — India’s domestic scene gave her the space to grow. Fighting under the Matrix Fight Night (MFN) banner, Tomar put together a run that reminded people why she was once a national-level wushu athlete.
In 2022, she captured the MFN Straw-weight Championship, becoming one of the faces of Indian women’s MMA. The title run proved she could go five rounds, control range, and win rounds on points — exactly the skill set the UFC scouts for in the 115-pound division. More importantly, it rebuilt her confidence after the ONE setback.
By late 2023, the UFC came calling.
Breaking The Ceiling: First Indian In The UFC
In October 2023, the UFC announced Puja Tomar as its newest signing. She became the first Indian-born woman to sign with the promotion and only the second Indian fighter overall after Anshul Jubli.
For Indian MMA, it was a landmark. The UFC had run events in India before, but never had an Indian-born athlete on the roster. Tomar’s signing put India on the official UFC map, not as a market, but as a talent source.
Her debut was set for June 2024 in Louisville, USA, against Brazil’s Rayanne dos Santos.
The Historic Win: Split Decision Over Dos Santos- June 15, 2024
In UFC Louisville.
Three rounds, all standing, all close. Tomar used movement, low kicks, and clinch entries to edge rounds against a more experienced opponent. When the judges’ scorecards were read, it was 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. Split decision. Puja Tomar.
With that, she made history as the “first Indian fighter to win in the UFC”. The win wasn’t flashy, but it was tactical. She showed composure, cardio, and the ability to win minutes — exactly what’s needed at the highest level. Back home, clips of “The Cyclone” with the Indian tricolour went viral.
The Struggle Since: 1-2. In the UFC, competition doesn’t get easier after your first win. Tomar’s next two fights tested her grappling defences.
In March 2025, she faced Ireland’s Shauna Bannon and lost via armbar submission in the second round. Five months later, in May 2026, she fought China’s Shi Ming and was submitted again, this time by a rear-naked choke.
That puts her current UFC record at 1-2, and her overall professional record at 9-6 as of mid-2026. Both losses came on the ground, highlighting the area she’s now working to improve.
She currently trains out of “Soma Fight Club in Bali, Indonesia”, splitting time between striking sessions and high-level grappling camps to close that gap.
What She Means for Indian MMA—Win or lose, Puja Tomar changed the conversation. Before her, Indian MMA was mostly YouTube highlights and regional shows. After her, there is a UFC win on the record books.
She’s shown young athletes in UP, Haryana, and Maharashtra that the path exists: wushu > domestic circuit > international contract. She’s also shown the gaps — the need for better wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and strength conditioning to compete with the US, Brazil, and China’s deep talent pools.
At 33, she’s still in her prime for strawweight. The UFC keeps a close eye on new markets, and India remains one of them. Another win could put her right back into contention and give Indian fans a second moment to cheer.
Puja Tomar’s UFC story so far is three words: first, historic, unfinished.
First Indian to sign. First Indian to win. And now, trying to be the first Indian to build a real run inside the octagon.
That June night in Louisville came down to one point on one judge’s card. In MMA, and in Indian sports history, that one point made all the difference.
Reference:-
- Club https://youtu.be
- UFC.com https://share.google
- Puja Tomar: History In The Making | UFC https://www.ufc.com
- YouTube https://share.google
- India Today https://share.google