Ritu Phogat
Born (1994-05-02) 2 May 1994
Haryana, India
Other namesThe Indian Tigress
Height156 cm (5 ft 1 in)
Weight52 kg (115 lb; 8 st 3 lb)
DivisionAtomweight
StyleWrestling
Fighting out ofSingapore
TeamEvolve MMA (2019–present)[1]
TrainerSiyar Bahadurzada
Years active2019–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total10
Wins7
By knockout3
By decision4
Losses3
By submission2
By decision1
OccupationMixed martial artists, Wrestler
Notable relativesDaya Kaur (mother)
Mahavir Singh Phogat (father)
Geeta Phogat (sister)
Babita Kumari (sister)
Sangita Phogat (sister)
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Women's Freestyle wrestling
Representing  India
Commonwealth Wrestling Championship
Gold medal – first place2016 Singapore48 kg
Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place2017 New Delhi48 kg
World U23 Championships
Silver medal – second place2017 Bydgoszcz 48 kg

Ritu Kumari Phogat (born 2 May 1994) is an Indian mixed martial artist who competed in the Atomweight division of ONE Championship. She is also a female wrestler who won a gold medal at the 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship.

Early and personal life

Ritu is the third daughter of former wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and started training under her father at the age of eight.

Her sisters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari as well as cousin Vinesh Phogat are all Commonwealth Games gold medalists in wrestling. Another cousin of her, Priyanka Phogat, is also an international level wrestler. In November 2022 Ritu married Advocate Sachin Chhikara.

Wrestling career

In October 2016, Phogat won her second consecutive title at the annual National Wrestling Championships. In November 2016, she won the gold medal at the 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship in Singapore in the 48 kg category.[2]

In December 2016, she became the most expensive female wrestler at the Pro Wrestling League auction, bagging a ₹36 lakh INR contract with the Jaipur Ninjas franchise.[3][4]

In November 2017, she won silver in the 48 kg category in World U-23 Wrestling Championships being held in Bydgoscz, Poland. This is India's first silver in the championship.[5]

Mixed martial arts career

ONE Championship

In February 2019, Phogat signed with ONE Championship with the intention of making her mixed martial arts debut.[6]

Phogat made her mixed martial arts debut against Nam Hee Kim at ONE Championship: Age Of Dragons in November 2019. She said, "In MMA my goal is to become the first Indian World champion."[7]

Phogat faced Nou Srey Pov at ONE Championship: Inside the Matrix on 30 October 2020.[8] She won the fight via TKO.[9]

Just over a month removed from her last bout, Phogat faced Jomary Torres at ONE Championship: Big Bang on 4 December 2020. She won the fight via TKO due to elbows.[10]

ONE Atomweight Grand Prix

Phogat faced Bi Nguyen at ONE Championship: Dangal on 15 May 2021 for a spot in the 2021 ONE Women's Atomweight Grand Prix.[11] Phogat lost by split decision, suffering the first loss of her mixed martial arts career.[12]

Phogat was scheduled to face Meng Bo in a quarterfinal bout of the 2021 ONE Women's Atomweight Grand Prix at ONE Championship: Empower on 28 May 2021.[13] Instead, she faced Bi Nguyen in what was considered to be a warm-up bout. She lost the bout via a split decision. Due to the loss, Phogat was removed from the Grand Prix.[12]

Phogat faced Lin Heqin at ONE Championship: Battleground on 30 July 2021.[14] She won by unanimous decision. She has been added in the 2021 ONE Women's Atomweight Grand Prix after displaying dominant performance against Lin Heqin.[15]

Phogat faced Meng Bo in a quarterfinal bout of the Atomweight World Grand-Prix at ONE Championship: Empower on September 3, 2021.[16] After surviving an early onslaught in the first round, Phogat went on to dominate the final two rounds to win by unanimous decision and advance to the Grand Prix Semi Finals.[17]

Phogat was scheduled to face Itsuki Hirata in the semi-final bout of ONE Women's Atomweight Grand Prix at ONE Championship: Next Generation on October 29, 2021.[18] However, due to sickness, Hirata had to pull out of the bout and was replaced by Jenelyn Olsim.[19] Phogat won the fight by unanimous decision.[20]

Phogat faced Stamp Fairtex in the ONE Women's Atomweight Grand Prix Final at ONE: Winter Warriors on December 3, 2021.[21][22] She was defeated by submission via armbar in the second round.[23]

Continued ONE career

Phogat faced former ONE Women's Strawweight title challenger Tiffany Teo at ONE 161 on September 29, 2022.[24] She lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[25]

On February 28, 2023, it was announced that Phogat had signed a three-year exclusive deal with Kumite 1 League.[26]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
10 matches 7 wins 3 losses
By knockout 3 0
By submission 0 2
By decision 4 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 7–3 Tiffany Teo Submission (rear-naked choke) ONE 161 September 29, 2022 1 4:52 Kallang, Singapore
Loss 7–2 Stamp Fairtex Submission (armbar) ONE: Winter Warriors December 3, 2021 2 2:14 Kallang, Singapore ONE Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix Final.
Win 7–1 Jenelyn Olsim Decision (unanimous) ONE: NextGen October 29, 2021 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore ONE Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix Semifinal.
Win 6–1 Meng Bo Decision (unanimous) ONE: Empower September 3, 2021 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore ONE Women's Atomweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
Win 5–1 Lin Heqin Decision (unanimous) ONE: Battleground July 30, 2021 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Loss 4–1 Bi Nguyen Decision (split) ONE: Dangal May 15, 2021 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 4–0 Jomary Torres TKO (elbows) ONE: Big Bang December 4, 2020 1 3:55 Kallang, Singapore
Win 3–0 Nou Srey Pov TKO (punches) ONE: Inside the Matrix October 30, 2020 2 2:02 Kallang, Singapore
Win 2–0 Wu Chiao Chen Decision (unanimous) ONE: King of the Jungle February 28, 2020 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 1–0 Nam Hee Kim TKO (punches) ONE: Age of Dragons November 16, 2019 1 3:37 Beijing, China

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Famous Indian wrestler Ritu Phogat joins Evolve MMA". asianmma.com. 26 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "Sandeep Tomar, Satyawart Kadian, Ritu Phogat bag gold at Commonwealth Wrestling Championships". The Indian Express. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Yadav, Sidharth (31 December 2016). "The next Phogat". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "Bajrang Punia, Ritu Phogat top Indian buys at Pro Wrestling League auction". ESPN.in. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Dangal 2: Another Phogat sister sets the mat on fire". The Times of India. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  6. ↑ James Goyder (27 February 2019). "Indian wrestler Ritu Phogat signs with ONE Championship". mmamania.com.
  7. ↑ Selvaraj, Jonathan (5 November 2019). "Ritu Phogat 'anxious' to become India's first MMA world champion". Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX FULL LINEUP REVEALED". Asian Persuasion MMA. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  9. ↑ Sadu, Rahel. "India's Ritu Phogat defeats Nou Srey Pov via TKO to earn 3rd ONE Championship win". indianexpress.com. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Danny Kingad faces Kairat Akhmetov at ONE: 'Big Bang'". asianmma.com. 23 November 2020.
  11. ↑ "Brandon Vera to defend heavyweight title against Arjan Bhullar at ONE: 'Dangal'". Asian MMA. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Ritu Phogat stumbles to first MMA loss, out of One title shot". ESPN.com. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  13. ↑ Marc Raimondi (12 March 2021). "ONE women's atomweight grand prix to launch on all-women's card in May". ESPN.
  14. ↑ "Aung La Nsang faces Leandro Ataides at ONE: 'Battleground' | Asian MMA". AsianMMA. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  15. ↑ "ONE Championship – Battleground results: Aung La N Sang, Victoria Lee impress in stoppage wins". MMA Junkie. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  16. ↑ Cruz, Guilherme (16 August 2021). "ONE Championship's all-women's card back on for next month". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  17. ↑ Anderson, Jay (3 September 2021). "Ritu Phogat Survives Early Onslaught, Gets Past Meng Bo at ONE: Empower". Cageside Press. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  18. ↑ "Ritu Phogat faces Itsuki Hirata in atomweight Grand Prix semi final | Asian MMA". AsianMMA. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "Ritu Phogat gets new opponent at ONE: 'NextGen'". Asian MMA. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  20. ↑ Anderson, Jay (29 October 2021). "Ritu Phogat Survives Upkicks, Wins Decision Over Olsim at ONE: NextGen". Cageside Press. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  21. ↑ "ONE Championship announces ONE: Winter Warriors card in December". mymmanews.com. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  22. ↑ "Saygid Arslanaliev faces Timofey Nastyukhin at ONE: 'Winter Warriors'". Asian MMA. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  23. ↑ Anderson, Jay (3 December 2021). "Stamp Fairtex Submits Ritu Phogat, Wins Atomweight GP at ONE: Winter Warriors". Cageside Press. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  24. ↑ "Ritu Phogat to face Singapore's Tiffany Teo on September 29". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  25. ↑ Taylor, Tom (30 September 2022). "ONE Championship 161: Tiffany Teo slams Angela Lee after making statement on atomweight debut". scmp.com. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  26. ↑ Jay Rock (28 February 2023). "Ritu Phogat signs three-year exclusive deal with Kumite 1 League". MMA India. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
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