Sangram Singh, former Commonwealth heavyweight champion, has had a long career as an international-level Greco-Roman wrestler besides his work as an actor, model, and motivational speaker.
He is scheduled to face Florian Coudiere, a French MMA fighter on Sunday (April 5) in Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Coudiere is 15 years younger, providing an interesting challenge for Sangram as he continues to explore professional MMA.
In 2012, after a game in South Africa, Sangram was named the ‘World’s Best Professional Wrestler’ by World Wrestling Professionals for his style, stamina, and wrestling ability. He remained a professional wrestler until 2024, when he made his MMA debut at the Gama International Fighting Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia, defeating
Pakistan’s Ali Raza Nasir in 90 seconds.
Asked about his transition from wrestling to MMA, Sangram told News18 Sports, “Today, combat sports are popular and are being integrated everywhere, even in football training. Whether it is soccer or MMA, UFC and other combat disciplines, young athletes are getting exposure early.”
“For example, when I travel through airports, I often meet 12- to 15-year-olds who are already passionate about fighting. In India, there are a million kids practising combat sports.”
“I participate a little and when a match goes viral, it inspires even more youngsters to take up the sport. Compared to today, only four to five per cent of kids were involved in combat sports in India,” he added, noting MMA’s growing influence.
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At 40, when most MMA athletes are in the twilights of their careers, Sangram continues to compete in MMA, a proof of the longevity of his athletic career. When asked what keeps him going, he said, “I have been playing for a long time. Even as a youngster, I represented my state and for the past 30-35 years, I have been following the same routine, same exercises, same diet.”
“I eat vegetarian, take supplements and use Ayurveda and Ayurvedic medicines. Age does not matter to me; whether I am 40, 42, 45, or 47, I will keep going as long as I can.”
“When I play a match, it inspires young athletes. If I can compete at this age, they see that even U-14 players can achieve so much in their 20s or 30s. That is my focus; nothing else matters.”
“Since I don’t play a team game, I don’t worry about being dropped or other pressures. If I have the courage and ability, I will continue to play,” he added.
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On the appeal of MMA and why wrestlers can transition to it, Sangram, Fit India Brand Ambassador, explained, “What is MMA? Today, it is a popular sport, but it is hard and combines boxing, wrestling, Taekwondo, Jiu-Jitsu, everything. It is more than just a sport, which is why it is interesting to watch.”
“The way it is planned, the way you prepare, the way you move forward and the way your mind works, it all makes it exciting. This world is different from wrestling. In wrestling, if you lose or get injured, the match can end. But MMA has a different intensity. It is like a bullfight in Spain, the same kind of energy. In India, there is no bull-fight, but we are seeing changes in combat sports. Our nation is becoming more competitive in these disciplines,” Sangram said.
Indian MMA is rising, driven by wrestlers entering the cage. Notable figures include UFC veterans like Puja Tomar, the first Indian to win a UFC bout, Anshul Jubli, and Bharat Kandare, along with grapplers such as Ritu Phogat and Arjan Singh Bhullar, former ONE Heavyweight Champion.
Recognised for his transition from wrestling to professional MMA, Sangram shared his vision for the sport: “It is great that MMA will now be included in the Asian Games. I believe that in the next five years, MMA will become a major sport in India. The kids practising it today will help the sport rise in the nation over the next 5-7 years.”
“I believe that in that time period, the world will learn to grow wary of Indian fighters,” he added.
On transitioning from wrestling to professional MMA, Sangram said, “If wrestlers want to move into professional wrestling or MMA, they have to work twice as hard, because it takes a long time and requires a different skill set. Hard work is essential if you want to perform on the world stage.”
“The next important thing is dedication. You have to remember that injuries can happen and you are responsible for yourself. Along with your regular training, you need to include some combat sports training.”
“For a wrestler, it is easier to succeed in MMA compared to athletes from other sports. The game is all about strategy. If someone comes at you, you maintain your stance and keep your guard up, so they cannot punch.”
“You watch their movement and if they come down, it shows they are stronger than you. Look at Khabib (Nurmagomedov), how he maintained his consistency and became a world champion,” Sangram concluded.
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