Puja Tomar

Last updated
Puja Tomar
Puja Tomar 2024.png
Born (1993-12-25) 25 December 1993 (age 31)
Budhana, Uttar Pradesh, India
Other namesCyclone
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) [1]
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
Division Bantamweight (2013)
Flyweight (2017)
Strawweight (2018–2020, 2022–present)
Atomweight (2021–2022)
Reach59 in (150 cm) [1]
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Bali, Indonesia
TeamSoma Fight Club
Years active2013, 2017–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total14
Wins9
By knockout6
By decision3
Losses5
By knockout1
By submission4
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Puja Tomar (born December 25, 1993) is an Indian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She has also competed in Matrix Fight Night and ONE Championship.

Contents

Background

Tomar was born in Budhana village in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. [2] She began her martial arts training with wushu, eventually representing India at the World Wushu Championship. Facing hardship from an early age, Tomar has often spoken publicly about societal stigma for girls in sports and how martial arts became a means of self-empowerment. [3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Tomar turned professional in 2013 and competed in regional promotion, Super Fight League, before she signed with ONE Championship. [4] [5]

ONE Championship

In the ONE debut, Tomar faced Tiffany Teo on November 24, 2017, at ONE: Immortal Pursuit. [6] She lost the fight via armbar in round one. [7]

Tomar faced Jihin Radzuan on March 9, 2018, at ONE: Visions of Victory. [8] She lost the fight via triangle choke in round two. [9]

Tomar faced Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol on January 19, 2019, at ONE: Eternal Glory. She won the fight via split decision. [10]

Tomar faced Stamp Fairtex on January 10, 2020, at ONE: A New Tomorrow. [11] She lost the fight via technical knockout in round one. [12]

Matrix Fight Night

After released by ONE, Tomar faced Jojo Rajkumari on September 24, 2021, at Matrix Fight Night 6. [13] She won the fight via split decision. [14]

Tomar faced Tenzin Pema on June 24, 2022, at Matrix Fight Night 9. [15] She won the fight via technical knockout in the first round. [16]

Tomar faced Bi Nguyen in a rematch for the inaugural MFN Women's Strawweight Championship on November 18, 2022, at Matrix Fight Night 10. [17] She won the title via technical knockout in the round two. [18]

In the first title defense, Tomar was scheduled to face Feier Huang on July 1, 2023, at Matrix Fight Night 12. [19] However, Huang pulled out for unknown reasons and was replaced by Anastasia Feofanova. [20] She won the fight via technical knockout due to corner stoppage in round four. [21]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On October 17, 2023, it was announced that Tomar signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), made her first Indian-born woman fighter in the promotion. [22]

Tomar made her UFC debut against Rayanne dos Santos on June 8, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57. [23] She won the fight via split decision, becoming the first Indian woman to win a bout in the UFC. [24] All 11 media outlets scored the bout in favor of dos Santos. [25]

Tomar faced Shauna Bannon on March 23, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 255. [26] She lost the fight via armbar in the third round. [27]

Muay Thai career

ONE Championship

Tomar made her ONE Super Series debut against Bi Nguyen on September 6, 2019, at ONE: Immortal Triumph. [28] She lost the fight via split decision. [29]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
14 matches9 wins5 losses
By knockout61
By submission04
By decision30
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss9–5Shauna BannonSubmission (armbar) UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady March 23, 202523:22 London, England
Win9–4 Rayanne dos Santos Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov June 8, 202435:00 Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Win8–4Anastasia FeofanovaTKO (corner stoppage)Matrix Fight Night 12July 1, 202345:00 Noida, IndiaDefended the MFN Women's Strawweight Championship.
Win7–4Bi NguyenTKO (punches)Matrix Fight Night 10November 18, 202222:52 Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReturn to Strawweight. Won the inaugural MFN Women's Strawweight Championship.
Win6–4Tenzin PemaTKO (punches)Matrix Fight Night 9June 24, 202210:20 New Delhi, India
Win5–4Jojo RajkumariDecision (split)Matrix Fight Night 6September 24, 202135:00 Dubai, United Arab EmiratesAtomweight debut.
Loss4–4 Stamp Fairtex TKO (punches and elbows) ONE: A New Tomorrow January 10, 202014:26 Bangkok, Thailand
Win4–3 Priscilla Hertati Lumban Gaol Decision (split) ONE: Eternal Glory January 19, 201935:00 Jakarta, Indonesia
Loss3–3Jihin RadzuanSubmission (triangle choke) ONE: Visions of Victory March 9, 201822:23 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaStrawweight debut.
Loss3–2Tiffany TeoSubmission (armbar) ONE: Immortal Pursuit November 24, 201714:07 Kallang, Singapore
Win3–1 Thulasi Helen TKO (punches)Super Fight League 2017: Highway to HurtFebruary 12, 201721:32 New Delhi, India
Loss2–1Hannah KampfSubmission (armbar)Super Fight League 2017: Metro MayhemFebruary 3, 201732:01 New Delhi, IndiaFlyweight debut.
Win2–0Ishu SoodKO (punch)Super Fight League: Contenders 17October 19, 201310:24 Nasik, India
Win1–0Priyanka KadamTKO (punches)Super Fight League: Contenders 16October 15, 201310:21 Nasik, IndiaBantamweight debut.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Puja Tomar ("The Cyclone") | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
  2. "Who Is Puja Tomar?: The Next Rising Star Of Indian MMA". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  3. "UFC London: Puja Tomar says her parents didn't want her because she was a girl". BBC Sport. 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  4. Sherdog.com. "Puja". Sherdog. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  5. "मैं बेटी थी तो मरने के लिए छोड़ दिया... कौन हैं UFC फाइटर पूजा तोमर, रिंग आते ही मचाती हैं तबाही". Navbharat Times. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  6. Anderson, Jay (2017-11-17). "ONE Championship: Immortal Pursuit Card Complete, Amir Khan Faces Adrian Pang in Co-Main Event". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  7. "Tiffany Teo Targets ONE Gold After Submitting Puja Tomar". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. 2017-11-24. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  8. Staff (2018-02-07). "ONE Championship Announces Several Fights for Visions of Victory, Including Bouts Featuring Christian Lee and Agilan Thani". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  9. Staff (2018-03-09). "ONE Championship: Visions of Victory Results". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  10. "Puja Tomar Stuns Indonesia With Split Decision Win". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. 2019-01-20. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  11. Anderson, Jay (2019-12-04). "Full Card Announced for ONE Championship: A New Tomorrow". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  12. "Stamp Fairtex Finishes Puja Tomar With First-Round TKO". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  13. "Indian atomweight Puja Tomar returns at Matrix Fight Night 6". Asian MMA. 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  14. "MFN 6 Results: Anshul Jubli remains undefeated, Jacky Gahlot wins co-main event". LockerRoom India. 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  15. "Jojo Rajkumari, Puja Tomar set for Matrix Fight Night 9". Asian MMA. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  16. "Matrix Fight Night 9 Results: Seth, Sanjeet and Jojo secure wins". LockerRoom India. 2022-06-24. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  17. "Bi Nguyen faces Puja Tomar at Matrix Fight Night 10". Asian MMA. 2022-09-20. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  18. "Matrix Fight Night 10 Results: Four New MFN Champions crowned at the event". LockerRoom India. 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  19. "Full fight card released for Matrix Fight Night 12". Asian MMA. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  20. "Puja Tomar faces Anastasia Feofanova at Matrix Fight Night 12". Asian MMA. 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  21. "MMA, Matrix Fight Night: Puja Tomar defeats Anastasia Feofanava to defend strawweight title". Scroll.in. 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  22. "UFC signs Puja Tomar, first India-born woman in promotion history". MMA Junkie. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  23. Sherdog.com. "First Indian Female UFC Fighter Puja Tomar Set for Octagon Debut". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  24. Bitter, Shawn (2024-06-08). "UFC Louisville: Puja Tomar Wins Narrow Decision Over Rayanne Amanda". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  25. Decisions, MMA (2024-06-08). "UFC Louisville: Puja Tomar vs. Rayanne dos Santos - Split Decision". MMA Decisions. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  26. Anderson, Jay (2024-11-27). "Shauna Bannon Gets Puja Tomar at UFC London". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  27. Law, Eddie (2025-03-22). "Shauna Bannon Scores First Finish Of UFC London Via Arm Bar". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  28. "Bi Nguyen faces Puja Tomar at ONE: 'Immortal Triumph'". Asian MMA. 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  29. "'Killer Bee' Swarms Puja Tomar With Stinging Performance In Vietnam". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2025-03-25.