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Puja Tomar, the only Indian woman to have fought in the UFC, shares a deeply personal story that has shaped her journey. Sitting down for an interview, she candidly reveals how her parents initially did not want her because she was a girl.
Her words surprise some journalists, but for Tomar, this reality is the foundation of her resilience, determination, and everything she stands for today.
“My family and this society doesn't allow girls, they like only boys,” Tomar tells BBC Sport.
“Before I was born, they wanted a boy. Even when I was a newborn, my mum told me my father didn’t want a third girl.”
A Childhood Marked by Struggles and Strength
Born in Budhana, a small village in Uttar Pradesh, Tomar, now 31, grew up in a society where the preference for sons over daughters was deeply ingrained. In many parts of India, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities, families often desire male children to carry on the family name, care for parents in old age, and perform religious rites. Daughters, on the other hand, are often seen as a financial burden due to dowry traditions.
Being the third daughter, Tomar’s family faced social ridicule, but rather than being discouraged, she used these challenges as motivation.
Her life took a drastic turn when she lost her father at the age of seven. It was a devastating loss, but her mother stood by her and encouraged her to find strength in adversity.
“After that, I wanted to beat boys. So I learned Jackie Chan movies and kung-fu and how to beat the boys,” Tomar recalls.
“Even on the road, I would go up to boys and say ‘hey’—I tried to fight with boys. I wanted to prove myself. After that, I realized I could be in sports, but nobody told me how to do it. My cousins, my family—nobody allows girls to go outside in India. But my mum, she fought for this day.”
Using the UFC Platform to Inspire Change
Tomar made history with a victorious UFC debut in June 2024. Now, as she prepares for her second fight at UFC London against Irish strawweight Shauna Bannon, she is using her growing platform to challenge traditional gender norms in India.
She wants to inspire parents to recognize the potential in their daughters, encouraging them to treat them as equals to their sons.
“I just want to tell every parent to be proud you have a girl. Give confidence to your girls, give belief to them,” Tomar says.
“Because if I can do it, many more can. Just open the gate. Don’t think a girl is only there to make food—a girl can do anything, just give them opportunities.”
Overcoming Barriers in Indian Women’s Sports
Tomar’s journey to the UFC was not an easy one. Beyond gender discrimination, Indian women in sports face several other challenges, including underfunding, lack of training facilities, and instances of sexual harassment and assault.
She began her MMA training around the age of 24 but struggled to find proper training centers in India.
“I was in MMA with no experience, no coach. Just sometimes I’d get help, but I had no coach,” she says.
“MMA sport training is very hard in India. In my society, you have to be fully clothed when you train with men. It’s very hard.”
Realizing that training in India would not be enough, she moved to Soma Fight Club in Bali, Indonesia, where she still trains today. After a four-fight winning streak, she was signed by the UFC in 2023, an achievement that once seemed like an impossible dream.
"Girls Don’t Just Belong in the Kitchen"
With every fight, Tomar continues to defy societal expectations and prove that women can excel in any field they choose.
“I kept going and kept going, and one day I can show the world girls don’t [belong only] in the kitchen,” she declares.
“I just want to work hard, keep going, and win and win. One day, I want to be on top.”
Her journey from a small village in Uttar Pradesh to the global stage of the UFC is more than just a personal victory—it is a statement to every girl in India and beyond that no dream is out of reach.
