GUWAHATI: Puja Tomar has made history as the first Indian fighter to win a match in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), securing a victory against Brazil's Rayanne dos Santos at UFC Louisville 2024.
Hailing from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Tomar had already set a precedent last year by becoming the first Indian woman to sign a UFC contract. In her debut bout in the women's strawweight division, she won by split decision with scores of 30-27, 27-30, and 29-28.
The fight was a closely contested match, showcasing the strengths of both fighters. Tomar dominated the first round with powerful body kicks that landed cleanly on dos Santos, making the Brazilian hesitant to advance. However, in the second round, dos Santos gained the upper hand, pushing Tomar on the defensive and effectively using kicks herself. Both fighters went back and forth, demonstrating their skills.
The final round was intense and evenly matched, but Tomar's decisive push kick knockdown secured her victory. After her win, Tomar dedicated the moment to Indian fighters and MMA fans, saying, "This victory is for all of you."
Tomar follows in the footsteps of Bharat Kandare and Anshul Jubli, who both competed in the UFC but did not win their debut matches. Her historic win marks a significant milestone for Indian MMA on the global stage.
The win of Puja over dos Santos was controversial with many stating that the performances of both fighters in the bout showed that it was a win for Rayanne not for Tomar, putting allegations of Tomar being favoured deliberately to capture Indian audiences.