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Arunachal CM Hails Sonam Zomba’s Title Defence at MFN 18

Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu congratulated MMA fighter Sonam Zomba for defending her MFN Women's Strawweight World Title at Matrix Fight Night 18. Zomba defeated Brazil's Maristela Alves via armbar submission in the third round. The victory extends her unbeaten run to seven fights since her 2022 comeback. Khandu praised her as an inspiration for young athletes across India.

Key Points: Sonam Zomba Defends MFN Title, CM Praises Her

  • Sonam Zomba defends MFN strawweight title at MFN 18
  • CM Pema Khandu calls her performance inspiring
  • Zomba submits Brazil's Maristela Alves in third round
  • Unbeaten in seven fights since 2022 comeback
2 min read

Arunachal Pradesh CM hails MMA fighter Sonam Zomba after her title defence at MFN 18

Arunachal CM Pema Khandu lauds MMA fighter Sonam Zomba after her strawweight title defence at MFN 18, calling her an inspiration for young athletes.

"What an inspiring performance by Sonam Zomba... she has once again made history - Pema Khandu"

New Delhi, May 3

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday congratulated mixed martial artist Sonam Zomba following her successful defence of the MFN Women's Strawweight World Title, calling her performance "inspiring" and a proud moment for the state.

In a post on X, Khandu shared a video of Zomba celebrating after her victory at Matrix Fight Night 18 and wrote, "What an inspiring performance by Sonam Zomba in defending her MFN Strawweight World Title at Matrix Fight Night 18. With determination, discipline, and grace, she has once again made history, becoming a proud symbol of excellence from Arunachal Pradesh and a true inspiration for young athletes across India and beyond."

He added that her journey reflects perseverance and the spirit of breaking barriers, congratulating her for elevating Indian MMA on the global stage.

The 27-year-old Zomba defended her title against Brazil's Maristela Alves in the main event held at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Indoor Sports Complex in Greater Noida on Saturday night. Facing a physically imposing opponent with a reach advantage, Zomba relied on composure and tactical discipline to neutralise Alves' aggressive striking.

The bout was decided in the third round when Zomba executed a well-timed double-leg takedown, transitioned into a dominant full mount, and secured an armbar submission. Alves tapped out at the 2:14 mark, sealing a decisive win for the Indian fighter.

The victory extended Zomba's unbeaten run to seven fights since her return in 2022 and improved her professional record to 7-1. It also marked her second successful defence of the strawweight title, which she had won at MFN 17 with a unanimous decision victory over Russia's Anna Safeeva.

Training under coach Bhawajit Choudhury at Bidang MMA & Fitness Gym in Assam, Zomba has built a reputation for her grappling control and adaptability inside the octagon. Her recent run includes stoppage wins, dominant decisions, and a ground-and-pound finish over Shiyin Tan last year.

Beginning her professional career in 2018 with a loss, Zomba took a four-year break before making a strong comeback in 2022, quickly establishing herself among India's top female MMA fighters.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
Her journey from losing her debut fight to becoming an unbeaten champion with seven straight wins is pure grit! Seven fights unbeaten since 2022, including two title defenses. Indian MMA is finally getting the recognition it deserves, and Sonam is leading the charge. CM Pema Khandu's words are spot on.
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Siddharth J
As an MMA fan, this is absolutely brilliant! The double-leg takedown to full mount to armbar submission in the third round was textbook perfect. But I wish more Indian states had the infrastructure to nurture fighters from remote areas. Imagine how many more Sonams we could produce if we had proper training facilities in every state.
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Ananya R
This is what happens when you combine determination with discipline! She took a four-year break after her loss and came back stronger than ever. That takes incredible mental strength. Proud moment for Arunachal Pradesh and India. Our girls are unstoppable! 🚀
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Karthik V
Salute to this young warrior! Sonam Zomba is showing the world that Indian athletes can excel in any sport, even something as physically demanding as MMA. However, I do feel the government should provide more sponsorship and training support for such athletes from underdeveloped regions. She's training in Assam despite being from Arunachal—that says a lot about the lack of local facilities.

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