Pooja Tomar’s journey began far from the bright lights of the UFC. Raised in Budhana, Muzaffarnagar, she grew up working in sugarcane fields after losing her father at a young age. Martial arts came later, after a school coach noticed her in karate at the age of 12, reports TOI's Vineet Ramakrishnan.
She went on to dominate Wushu, winning five national gold medals and representing India at the World Wushu Championships. Even after earning a government job offer, she chose a harder, uncertain path.
Fighting Became Survival
Tomar’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) journey began in 2013. Her first two professional fights ended in seconds—21 and 24 seconds. Years later, she endured three losses in ONE Championship and was released in 2020.
But she rebuilt herself in India’s Matrix Fight Night, eventually winning the MFN strawweight title and earning a UFC contract. In October 2023, she made history as the first Indian woman signed by the UFC.
A Win, a Loss, and the Pressure of What Comes Next
After winning her UFC debut in 2024, Tomar reflected on what it meant back home:
“After my first victory, I saw that MMA had grown quite a lot in India. People started realising that Indian fighters are also competing in the UFC. Many people in India watch the UFC, but even today a lot of people still do not know that Indians represent the country in the UFC.”
She added: “So for me, it has been about continuing to win more fights so that Indian fighters can get recognition within our own country, and people can see that Indian athletes are competing at this level in the UFC.”
In 2025, she suffered her first UFC loss, moving to 1-1. Now, her Macau fight in 2026 carries serious stakes.
Macau 2026: A Must-Win Moment
Facing China’s Shi Ming in front of a home crowd advantage, Tomar knows what is on the line.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone about it [my UFC future], but yes, my team and my coaches always tell me that victory is very important for Pooja, and I believe that too. For me, for my country, and for Indian MMA, this victory is very important,” she said.
On her confidence, she added: “I understand that, yes, I had already been in the UFC before Shi Ming. And I have also fought some very good fighters. So I feel I have gained good experience, and I believe I can do better than her.”
Her focus is simple: “I feel that this time I have worked even harder. I want to make my UFC record 2-1, and for that I need this victory. Right now my focus is only on that. There is nothing else in my mind, I just want to go there and bring back a big victory.”
More Than One Fighter
Tomar believes her journey is already changing MMA in India. “After my first victory, I saw that MMA had grown quite a lot in India. People started realising that Indian fighters are also competing in the UFC.”
She sees herself as part of a bigger chain reaction: “It has always been like this, if I am alone and I achieve victory, then in the future many doors will open for a lot of MMA fighters.”
“This time there are already two, next time there will be four, then ten. That is how the sport will grow.”
Changing Mindsets Back Home
Back in her village, things are shifting.
“A lot has changed compared to before. There is a new generation that is very excited about becoming MMA fighters. MMA has grown a lot compared to earlier days, although some people are still not fully comfortable with the sport. They feel that other sports are safer than this. But overall, the sport has definitely grown a lot.”
She added: “Many girls from my village come to meet me now,” she said. “In my own family, I have a niece who started doing a little boxing after watching me. They feel, if Pooja can do it, then why can’t we?”
The Bigger Dream
Tomar believes MMA in India still has a long way to go. “Maybe not right now [a UFC event in India], but in the coming years, the UFC can reach the level of the IPL in India,” she said.
“The day the UFC hosts an event in India, a lot of people will truly understand the level of this sport and how big it really is.”
One Fight Can Change Everything
In Macau, Pooja Tomar enters not just another fight—but a defining moment. A win keeps her UFC journey alive. A loss changes the equation. But her words, and her path, stay the same: forward, always forward.
