New Delhi: Puja Tomar made history as the first Indian to win a fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), defeating Brazil’s Rayanne dos Santos at UFC Louisville 2024. Hailing from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Puja had already broken new ground last year by becoming the first Indian woman to secure a UFC contract. In her debut fight in the women’s strawweight division, she triumphed by split decision with scores of 30-27, 27-30, and 29-28.
The match was a closely contested bout where both fighters showcased their strengths. Puja dominated the first round with powerful body kicks that landed cleanly on dos Santos. The Indian fighter had Dos Santos thinking twice about advancing in the fight in the first round.
The second round saw dos Santos taking the upper hand, constantly advancing and forcing Puja to counter while moving backwards. This round saw the Brazilian decide to adopt the same method as the Indian star and go for kicks more. She was successful in it as both women went at it. The final round was intense and evenly matched, but Puja’s decisive push kick knockdown secured her the victory.
