VMPL
New Delhi [India], August 31: Chungreng Koren’s Road to UFC Season 5 run got here to an finish in Shanghai on Friday after the Manipuri fighter misplaced his bantamweight semifinal to Japan’s Ryo Tajima by unanimous determination.
The 28-year-old, generally known as ‘The Indian Rhino’, entered the UFC’s Asia-Pacific expertise event as a short-notice substitute in May. His surprising alternative in Macau finally took him by way of to the semifinals in Shanghai, marking a big milestone for an Indian fighter on the Road to UFC stage.
At the Oriental Sports Center, Tajima took time to search out his vary and timing within the opening spherical earlier than utilizing his size and exact putting to regulate the competition. Koren got here out aggressively, urgent ahead behind heavy photographs and trying to shut the space, however Tajima did properly to keep away from important harm and settle into his rhythm.
As the struggle progressed, Tajima’s accuracy and better putting quantity started to dictate the motion. Koren continued to press ahead and seemed for alternatives to take the struggle to the canvas, however Tajima was in a position to preserve distance and decide his photographs successfully over the three rounds. The Japanese bantamweight was awarded a unanimous determination, with the judges scoring the bout 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28 in his favour.
Tajima now advances to the event last, the place he might be one win away from incomes a UFC contract.
Koren’s run started with little time to arrange. Called in as a substitute for the opening spherical in Macau, he confronted beforehand unbeaten Japanese fighter Ryuho Miyaguchi. After a aggressive opening spherical, Koren dropped Miyaguchi with a left hand within the second earlier than taking the struggle to the bottom and securing a submission victory.
The win despatched Koren into the semifinals and gave him the chance to check himself towards among the area’s main rising MMA prospects.
For Koren, the journey is the most recent chapter in a 15-year pursuit of a profession in a sport he started coaching in at Kamu Koireng village in Manipur, the place there was no established MMA infrastructure when he began. He initially skilled in wrestling earlier than shifting into combined martial arts and went on to construct an 8-2 skilled document and win the Matrix Fight Night Interim Bantamweight Championship in 2024.
His profession has additionally included setbacks. Following a 2025 defeat to Nepal’s Rabindra Dhant, Koren returned to intensive coaching camps in Dagestan and Phuket in preparation for an additional alternative on the worldwide stage.
That alternative got here in Macau, the place a short-notice call-up finally led to his semifinal look in Shanghai.
Koren has remained intently related to his dwelling state all through his profession. After profitable the Matrix Fight Night Interim Bantamweight Championship in 2024, he used his victory speech to make a public enchantment for peace in Manipur.
His Road to UFC journey was supported by Bengaluru-based RONIN Fighting Championship, which signed Koren as an Official Athlete Partner as a part of its effort to construct a sustainable skilled pathway for Indian MMA fighters.
‘Chungreng spent fifteen years discovering his personal approach in Indian MMA. We need to guarantee the subsequent fighter would not must. Our strategy is to offer fighters the long-term help, worldwide publicity and alternatives they should construct sustainable careers, moderately than treating each struggle as a standalone alternative. Our newest Fight Forge occasion in Bengaluru introduced collectively greater than 146 athletes from 5 nations throughout roughly 75 newbie bouts, alongside a 13-bout skilled card. That is how we discover and construct the subsequent era. India doesn’t lack fighters — it lacks the system round them, and we’re constructing it one contract at a time,’ stated Arun Kumar Krishnan, CEO and Co-Founder, RONIN Fighting Championship.
RONIN FC helps its contracted athletes by way of long-term partnerships, administration help, model alternatives and entry to worldwide coaching camps. Its Fight Forge Contender Series is designed to supply rising fighters with a pathway from newbie competitors to skilled MMA.
Koren’s subsequent task has not but been introduced.
While the UFC contract stays out of attain for now, Koren leaves Shanghai having reached the semifinals after getting into the event at brief discover — a run that has introduced better consideration to the potential of Indian fighters on the worldwide MMA stage.
Fifteen years after starting his journey in a Manipur village with out a longtime MMA pathway, the Indian Rhino has now stood one struggle away from the UFC.
About RONIN Fighting Championship:
RONIN FC is a Bengaluru-based built-in fight sports activities property spanning skilled struggle nights, the Fight Forge newbie contender collection, athlete administration and built-in model campaigns. Its occasions are sanctioned by the All India Mixed Martial Arts Federation (AIMMAF). Its Athlete Partner and Brand Ambassador programmes are constructed to make skilled MMA a viable profession in India — from the grassroots newbie circuit by way of to the worldwide stage.
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