UFC’s ‘Road to UFC’ Tournament Targets India’s Undiscovered MMA Potential
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s premier MMA promotion, is casting its net wider in search of new talent. The upcoming third season of the ‘Road to UFC’ tournament will not only serve as a proving ground for emerging fighters from Southeast Asia, but also place a special focus on India, a country with a vast population but relatively untapped MMA potential.
The ‘Road to UFC’ tournament is a win-and-advance competition that has previously produced UFC stars such as Anshul Jubli and Pooja Tomar from India. The third season will feature 32 fighters from Japan, South Korea, China, India, and other countries, competing in four weight divisions: bantamweight, featherweight, flyweight, and women’s strawweight.
Among the 32 participants are four Indians: Angad Bisht and Kiru Singh Sahota in the flyweight division, and Kiran Singh and Priya Sharma in the women’s flyweight division. These fighters will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of Jubli and Tomar by impressing UFC president Dana White and earning a contract with the organization.
The tournament will take place at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, China, from May 18th to 19th, 2024. The overall cost of the event is estimated to be $13 million.
Angad Bisht, with a 9-2 record and a four-fight win streak, will be one to watch in the flyweight division. His compatriot Kiru Singh Sahota, with a 10-2 record and a recent first-round knockout victory, is also a strong contender. Priya Sharma and Kiran Singh, both with two-fight win streaks, will be competing in the women’s flyweight division.
The ‘Road to UFC’ tournament is a significant opportunity for Indian MMA fighters to showcase their skills on a global stage. With the UFC’s continued investment in the Southeast Asian region, it is hoped that India will emerge as a breeding ground for future MMA superstars.
