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The Pioneers of Indian MMA looking to usher a new era for the sport in the country
Aug 15, 2024
Two of the first-generation MMA fighters from India, Srikant Sekhar and Bharat Khandare will be looking to kickstart a new era of MMA in India as they fight at BRAVE CF 85, scheduled to happen on August 18 in Pakistan.
Srikant and Bharat will become the first-ever MMA fighters from India to fight in Pakistan as they lock horns with Rizwan Ali and Zia Mashwani respectively at the event. As two fighters that have seen it all during their lengthy careers, there would not be better choices than these two to represent India at the biggest MMA event in South Asia. Bharat Khandare, the more seasoned of the two, began his MMA journey in 2009, a time when MMA events were rare in India. He took every opportunity to fight, and by 2012, he became more active, establishing himself in the sport. It was during this period that Srikant Sekhar entered the MMA scene. Both fighters competed in the same regional promotion in 2012. Bharat dominated the Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions, eventually becoming a champion, while Srikant struggled in his first two Middleweight fights before finding his footing with two consecutive wins.
Bharat went on to represent India internationally, including a fight at BRAVE CF 5, before taking a seven-year break from the sport. Meanwhile, Srikant took a break from MMA after 2016 but returned in 2019, rising to prominence by defeating top Indian fighters Rajinder Singh Meena and Jason Ramesh Solomon. He has remained active since then. As they now step into the most global MMA organization, both fighters share a common motivation: to raise the Indian flag on Pakistani soil. A victory at BRAVE CF 85 in Pakistan would not only be a turning point in their careers but also provide a significant boost to the MMA circuit in India, making this a high-stakes event for both fighters.
