Chatri Sityodtong says Ritu Phogat ready to resume stellar MMA career: “She wants to come back by the end of the year”

ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong has teased the highly anticipated return of a certain Indian MMA star ready to make a comeback in the world's largest martial arts organization.

In an interview session with reporters during ONE Friday Fights 81 fight week in Bangkok, Sityodtong says 'The Indian Tigress' Ritu Phogat will soon return to the Circle to resume her promising MMA career in ONE Championship.

Sityodtong said:

"We have Ritu Phogat who just gave birth to a child. And so she's going through motherhood right now, but she wants to come back by the end of the year. She messaged me. She wants to come back by the end of the year. So it'd be great to welcome Ritu Phogat back."

Sityodtong and ONE Championship have invested heavily in Indian martial arts talent over the years, and the Thai-Japanese entrepreneur says the country has continued to produce some great athletes.

Don't be surprised to see ONE Championship add more Indian talent to their roster in the future.

Chatri Sityodtong believes Muay Thai is a good avenue for Indians in martial arts: "Indians really love Muay Thai now"

With ONE Championship's extensive promotion of striking arts through ONE Friday Fights, the popularity of disciplines such as kickboxing and Muay Thai has gone through the roof, especially in India.

He said:

"We have scouts all over the world, across all disciplines, MMA, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and grappling, in every major country. And obviously, in India, we're televised live by the biggest broadcaster, Star Sports India, and Hot Star. We have the biggest platform. I think India, with 1.3 billion people, you just got to find the talent. There will be talent in India, for sure. And yeah, from my understanding, Indians really love Muay Thai now, and it's growing very fast in India, the popularity. So I think we'll see more and more Indians in ONE Championship."