Now Reading: Puja Tomar eyes UFC comeback, urges Performance Institute for India
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Puja Tomar eyes UFC comeback, urges Performance Institute for India
The Story in Brief
Puja Tomar, the first Indian to win a UFC bout, has called for the UFC to establish a Performance Institute in India to develop fighters, as she works towards opening her own academy. Speaking in Mumbai on Saturday, 7 November 2026, Tomar said Indian fighters need international coaches, proper training programmes and better facilities to compete consistently at the highest level.
Tomar, who defeated Brazil's Rayanne dos Santos in June 2024, has lost her last two fights, to Shauna Bannon in March 2025 and Shi Ming in May 2026. She is now preparing to return to training after a family setback and wants to improve her wrestling and ground game. The 32-year-old is part of the UFC India Tour and hopes more girls take up MMA.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both outlets report Tomar's call for a UFC Performance Institute and her plan to open her own academy. The Hindu emphasises her historic win and her role as the only Indian UFC winner, while the Times of India leads with the growing popularity of MMA among girls and details her two recent losses and her mother's illness. The Hindu omits the losing streak and family setback entirely, presenting an unbroken success narrative. The Times of India's fuller account gives a more realistic picture of her career. Together, the coverage shows a fighter balancing ambition with personal and professional setbacks. Tomar has not set a date for her next fight.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): thehindu.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
