Now Reading: Manipur fighter Chungreng Koren targets UFC deal in Shanghai semi-final
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Manipur fighter Chungreng Koren targets UFC deal in Shanghai semi-final
Chungreng Koren, a 28-year-old MMA fighter from Manipur, faces Japan's Ryo Tajima in the bantamweight semi-final of Road to UFC in Shanghai on August 28. A win puts him one fight away…
Chungreng Koren, a 28-year-old MMA fighter from Manipur, faces Japan's Ryo Tajima in the bantamweight semi-final of Road to UFC in Shanghai on August 28. A win puts him one fight away from a UFC contract. Koren, who switched from wrestling to MMA in 2018 after getting married, trains at Warrior's Cove in Gurugram and Lions MMA Club in Phuket.
Koren's previous Road to UFC appearance in 2025 was cancelled, and he suffered a knockout loss to Nepal's Rabindra Dhant that shook his confidence. He calls this opportunity "the last option God has given me" and says he is 100 per cent prepared. Koren supports his wife and three children through fighting, as he says there is no government recognition or rewards for MMA fighters in India. His goal is to become India's first UFC champion.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Road to UFC is the promotion's current Asia-Pacific talent gateway, with a UFC contract as the prize for the tournament winner. Koren's path mirrors that of Manipur's Ritu Phogat, who went from wrestling to MMA but fell short of a UFC deal. Combat sports lack formal government support structures in India, leaving fighters dependent on private sponsors and fight purses. A win on August 28 puts Koren one fight away from a contract, a loss leaves him without the UFC safety net and facing uncertain earnings to support his family of five. The next concrete milestone is the Shanghai bout itself, its result determines whether he gets a shot at the final in late 2025.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
