Sports have long been associated with the identity of Northeast India. From football icons such as Bhaichung Bhutia and Jeje Lalpekhlua to boxing legend Mary Kom, athletes from the region have brought immense recognition and pride to India through their achievements across national and international tournaments. It is no surprise that the Northeast is often celebrated as the “powerhouse of Indian sports.”
Indian football, for decades, has relied heavily on talent from the region. Besides dribbling between goalposts, Northeastern athletes have also excelled across a wide range of sports. Manipur’s Mirabai Chanu secured an Olympic silver medal in weightlifting, Assam’s Lovlina Borgohain won an Olympic bronze medal in boxing, and Tripura’s Dipa Karmakar made history as the first Indian female gymnast to compete in the Olympics. These achievements are a testament to the region’s extraordinary sporting culture and talent pool.
In a country where cricket dominates public attention, sponsorship and media coverage, many other sports often struggle for visibility and institutional support. Yet this very imbalance has, in some ways, created opportunities for sportspersons from the Northeast to carve out spaces in areas that receive less national attention. Through resilience, determination, regional sporting initiatives and community support, they have navigated the limitations of mainstream sporting priorities and emerged as some of India’s most accomplished athletes.
Today, an emerging cohort of sports stars appears to be emerging from the region, not on football fields or boxing rings alone, but inside Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) cages. As MMA gains global popularity, fighters from the Northeast are carving out a significant presence in the sport, and raising an important question: Are MMA fighters becoming Northeast’s newest sporting export?
The story of Nazareth Lalthazuala Hmar offers a compelling illustration. The 25-year-old fighter from Aizawl recently made history by becoming the first Indian to secure a coveted US$100,000 contract with ONE Championship, one of the world’s leading MMA promotions. Before his breakthrough, Nazareth worked as a vegetable vendor, a reminder of the humble beginnings that characterize the similar journeys of many athletes from the Northeast. His success story is not only of individual perseverance but also highlights the critical role that community-based sporting ecosystems play in nurturing talent.
The Mizoram State Mixed Martial Arts Association (MISMA) invested years in developing and promoting Nazareth before he achieved international recognition. Such grassroots assistance reflects a broader sporting culture in which communities actively participate in identifying, mentoring and sustaining promising athletes. The recent visit of Joshua Van, the rising UFC flyweight contender of Myanmar Chin heritage with close ethnic and cultural ties to the Mizo community, has further ignited local enthusiasm for the sport. His appearance at a MISMA Fight Night event attracted widespread attention and served as a powerful source of inspiration for aspiring martial artists across the region.
Mizoram is not alone. Across Northeast India, a growing number of athletes are making their mark in professional MMA. Gyms like Bidang MMA and Fitness, and the Combat Academy among others, have been training fighters from the region and attracting prospective talents from across the country. Arunachal Pradesh’s Sonam Zomba has emerged as one of India’s most promising female fighters, competing successfully on international platforms and inspiring a new generation of women athletes.
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The steady rise of MMA in the Northeast represents more than a shift in the social geography of the Indian athletic landscape. For many fighters, it has become a pathway to visibility, recognition and social mobility in a country where both the region and the sport have often existed on the margins of mainstream attention. In this sense, Northeastern MMA athletes navigate a unique double challenge of competing in a sport that remains relatively niche in India while also coming from a region that has historically been underrepresented in national sporting narratives. Their success, therefore, carries significance beyond individual achievement. It enables athletes and their communities to gain greater representation and recognition, making MMA as much about identity and belonging as it is about sparring in the ring.
Whether MMA fighters ultimately become the region’s next major sporting export remains to be seen. However, the signs are unmistakable. From the streets of Aizawl to training centres in Guwahati, a next wave of fighters are stepping into the cage. With confidence, they carry with them not only personal ambition but also the aspirations of a region that has repeatedly punched above its weight in the Indian sporting landscape.
Views expressed are personal.
Dr Embassy Lawbei (emmylawbei@gmail.com) teaches at the Department of Liberal Arts, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. She is engaged in teaching and research on media, communication, conflict and human rights.
Dr. Jordan Kinchum Tshering Namchu(jordannamchu@gmail.com) teaches at the Department of Liberal Arts, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. His teaching and research focus on political sociology, indigenous studies, and questions of democracy and governance.
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