India’s History Maker Puja Tomar Lines Up Third UFC Fight, Looks To Bounce Back
India’s strawweight trailblazer Puja Tomar has signed on for her third bout in the UFC, adding a fresh chapter to a career that has already broken important ground for Indian MMA.
Sources close to the situation indicate that Tomar has agreed to face Chinese prospect Shi Ming on a UFC card targeted for Macau on May 30, with verbal agreements in place as matchmaking moves toward finalized bout agreements. While the promotion has yet to issue an official announcement.
If finalized on the expected date, the fight would mark Tomar’s third walk to the Octagon and her next since suffering an armbar submission loss to Ireland’s Shauna Bannon at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady on March 22, 2025, in London. That bout was booked as her sophomore UFC appearance and ended at 3:22 of the second round when Bannon secured the finish on the mat. The new matchup in Macau gives Tomar a quick route back into the win column in front of a fanbase that has followed her since her days in Asian promotions.
India’s History Maker Puja Tomar
Tomar made history in October 2023 when the UFC announced that she had signed with the promotion, making her the first India‑born woman to join the roster. A veteran of Matrix Fight Night in India and a former competitor in ONE Championship, she arrived with an 8‑4 record and a four‑fight winning streak that included claiming the inaugural Matrix Fight Night strawweight title. Her MFN run featured a fourth‑round stoppage of Anastasia Feofanova in July 2023 to capture the belt and a second‑round TKO of Bi Nguyen in November 2022, results that helped secure UFC interest.
The Indian strawweight’s UFC debut came on June 8, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57 against Brazilian Rayanne dos Santos. In a high‑volume striking battle, Tomar edged out a split decision and in the process became the first Indian woman to win a UFC bout, a milestone moment for the sport in her home country.
Competing at strawweight, Tomar fights out of Soma Fight Club in Bali and has been a professional since 2013. Her overall resume includes multiple wins by knockout, with several early finishes recorded in under half a minute during her run on the Indian circuit, highlighting a pressure‑forward style built on striking and Wushu experience.
The anticipated meeting with Shi Ming in Macau presents a chance to rebound from the Bannon loss, re‑establish herself in a deep strawweight division, and add another high‑profile appearance for Indian MMA fans who have followed her journey from national Wushu champion to UFC history maker. As the bout agreement moves toward completion, eyes in both India and China will be on the official announcement that confirms date, venue, and card placement for her latest step inside the Octagon.
