India has produced world-class wrestlers and tough, durable athletes for decades, so on paper it feels like the country should have made a bigger mark in the UFC by now. But the reality has been very different. The number of Indian fighters who have even stepped inside the octagon remains extremely small, and sustained success has been even harder to find.
Bharat Khandare was the first India-born fighter to sign with the UFC back in 2017, but his run ended after a single appearance. Years later, Anshul Jubli earned his place by winning Road to UFC in 2023 and is still trying to find his footing at that level. Puja Tomar also broke new ground by becoming the first Indian woman to compete in the promotion. These moments matter, but they haven’t yet translated into consistent results.
Can India make it big in the UFC?
One of the biggest differences is how fighters are developed. In countries where MMA is already established, athletes grow up around the sport. They have access to experienced coaches, proper strength and conditioning, and regular competition against high-level opponents. In India, many fighters are still figuring things out as they go. By the time they reach an international stage, they are often playing catch-up.
There’s also the issue of competition. A fighter can look dominant locally, but the UFC is a completely different environment. Opponents are faster, more technical, and far more experienced. That jump isn’t gradual, it’s sudden, and it exposes gaps quickly.
Money is another quiet factor. Training camps, travel, nutrition, recovery, all of it costs a lot. Without steady backing, it becomes difficult to stay consistent over the long term. Some fighters end up splitting focus between survival and sport.
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India’s wrestling background does help, but modern MMA isn’t just about one strength. Fighters need to be complete, comfortable everywhere, and able to adapt under pressure. That kind of development takes time and structure.
The talent is there, no doubt about that. What’s missing, at least for now, is the system that can turn that talent into results at the highest level.
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