UFC signs Puja Tomar, first India-born woman in promotion history

India is about to witness a groundbreaking event in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) as the first-ever female UFC fighter from India has been announced.

On Tuesday, Puja Tomar, a strawweight fighter, revealed that she has recently signed with the UFC, making history as the first India-born woman to join the prestigious organization. This exciting news was also confirmed by her management company, First Round Management Europe.

Although no specific details regarding her debut or opponent have been revealed yet, fans eagerly anticipate Tomar’s first appearance in the octagon.

Puja Tomar, with a record of 8-4 in MMA (0-0 UFC), is currently enjoying a four-fight winning streak. She holds the strawweight championship title in Matrix Fight Night. This signing with the UFC marks her second major promotional stint, following her participation in ONE Championship from 2017 to 2020, where she competed in four MMA fights and one muay Thai bout. Notably, Tomar achieved a split decision victory over Priscilla Gaol in 2019.

In celebration of her groundbreaking achievement, Tomar took to Instagram and wrote, “Today marks a moment in history, where a young girl from UP Budhana bijrol can turn her dream into reality. It marks a moment where anything is possible, no matter where we are from, because if I can get here, so can many of us.”

It’s worth mentioning that while Tomar is the first India-born woman to make it to the UFC, Bharat Khandare holds the distinction of being the first Indian fighter, male or female, to compete in the organization. Unfortunately, Khandare’s UFC journey was cut short after one fight against Song Yadong in November 2017, where he suffered a first-round submission loss. Furthermore, he later faced a suspension by USADA for prohibited substances, resulting in a two-year hiatus from competition.

This story originally appeared on MMA Junkie