India has the talent to grow into an MMA powerhouse. Giving that talent an honest path to the top remains the challenge.
Indian MMA has enormous potential, but turning that potential into elite talent remains a challenge. Despite its vast population and strong wrestling culture, the sporting heart of India primarily belongs to cricket.
Even a small portion of that interest could transform the country’s MMA scene. So why has India struggled to build the same depth of MMA talent as some of its Asian neighbors?
Multiple answers exist, including limited access to professional training centers and the resources to sustain promotions over the long haul. Alongside those challenges is another issue that money and facilities alone cannot solve. Parts of the regional fight scene face questions about the legitimacy of their competition.
The writer’s experience managing Indian MMA records for Tapology, an MMA records database, offered a firsthand look at these challenges. Some event results could not be finalized because of concerns about fighter identities and the legitimacy of the bouts.
For any talent pool to grow, fair competition must exist to push athletes and elevate their training. Without meaningful tests, fighters can build impressive records without developing the skills those records suggest. Moving to a higher level then becomes a much harsher adjustment.
Alter Egos & Showmanship
On the regional MMA scene in India, concerns about misleading identities involve both promoters and fighters. Indian MMA commentator Rahul Chhabra has alleged that some fighters compete under false names to help inflate opponents’ records while keeping losses off their own.
One example he cited was a professional flyweight bout at The Hero: Pro Fight Night 2 on October 25, 2020. Sumit Kumar finished an opponent identified as Prakesh Raut in the first round with punches. To a casual observer, it appeared to be an ordinary regional fight.
According to Chhabra, however, the opponent was Mukul Anand competing under another name. Chhabra said he later spoke with Anand, who told him he had agreed to put up enough of a fight for the contest to appear legitimate while allowing Kumar to win.
Under the arrangement Chhabra described, Kumar would gain a victory while Anand would avoid having the loss attached to his own name.
Sherdog now lists Anand as “Prakash Raut” and includes the Kumar loss on his record. The alternate name alone does not prove a predetermined outcome; that allegation rests on Chhabra’s account of his conversation with Anand.
By 2022, three bouts had been removed from Kumar’s Tapology record over similar concerns. Chhabra called opponents competing under false identities “ghost fighters” and alleged that the practice extended beyond Kumar’s bouts.
When identities or results cannot be reliably verified, the consequences reach beyond a single record. Opponents, matchmakers, and fans lose a dependable way to assess a fighter’s experience.
A Culture of Manufactured Records
Other concerns involve fighters with glittering undefeated records repeatedly facing debutants or opponents with lopsided losing records.
Uneven matchmaking does not automatically mean a fight is fixed. Every prospect needs room to develop, and a debutant may bring considerable experience from another combat sport. But consistently protecting undefeated fighters from meaningful competition can leave their records far ahead of their abilities.
The problem becomes especially clear when prospects compete on the same regional circuit but never face each other. Victories keep accumulating, yet there is little opportunity to establish who is ready for the next level.
That approach can also undermine confidence in a promotion. Reliable records and credible matchmaking help fans understand what they are watching and give potential partners a reason to invest in the product.
Oversight is part of the answer. Sanctioning bodies can help enforce standards, but their involvement must translate into practical safeguards. Verifying identities, reviewing matchmaking, enforcing rules, and submitting accurate results should be routine parts of running an event.
Without that consistency, legitimate fighters risk being overshadowed by athletes whose records do not reflect the same level of competition.
The Shroffs Fight Back
One organization that has helped create opportunities for Indian MMA is Matrix Fight Night. Launched in 2019 and backed by the Shroff family, whose name carries considerable weight in Bollywood, MFN has given Indian fighters a platform to build their careers at home.
The family’s involvement has brought resources and visibility to a sport that needs both. MFN has also provided a stage for athletes who went on to compete internationally, including Anshul Jubli and Puja Tomar.
Jubli won the Road to UFC lightweight tournament in February 2023, while Tomar earned a victory over Rayanne dos Santos in her UFC debut in June 2024. Their achievements show that a path from the Indian regional scene to success on a global stage is possible.
Chhabra has pointed to MFN’s recruitment practices as one way to address concerns about fighter identities. He described the promotion as signing athletes from established gyms and conducting background checks to verify who was competing.
The Shroff family’s investment also extends beyond promoting fights. Through MMA Matrix, they have developed a gym business offering MMA training alongside other fitness disciplines, helping expand access to the sport.
Training and competition need to develop together. Quality coaching gives athletes the tools to improve, while legitimate matchups reveal where that work is paying off and what still needs attention.
The raw ability is there, investment has created opportunities, and the passion is certainly there. But lasting progress also depends on pushing self-dealing interests out of the equation. Indian fighters deserve a system where honest work leads to meaningful opportunities, and a strong record represents more than a carefully arranged series of wins.
