Bengaluru, August 16: Bengaluru witnessed a landmark evening for Indian combat sports as RONIN FC 3 – The Legacy Awakens brought international mixed martial arts to the city, with 146 athletes from India, Nepal, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan competing at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium on Saturday. Staged on Independence Day, the event brought together high-level international competition and a celebration of India’s rich martial arts heritage.
Organised by Sinhoi Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd. in association with the All India Mixed Martial Arts Federation (AIMMAF), the third edition of RONIN FC featured 13 MMA bouts, comprising six preliminary contests and seven professional fights. The event drew a capacity audience, further reinforcing Bengaluru’s growing prominence as a destination for international combat sports.
Adding a distinct Indian identity to the fight night was a 45-minute Kalaripayattu showcase by Agastham Kalari. Integrated into the main programme, the performance brought the discipline, movement and heritage of the traditional martial art to an audience witnessing contemporary MMA competition. The showcase reflected the event’s central theme of connecting India’s martial legacy with the global evolution of combat sports.
The build-up to RONIN FC 3 began on August 14 with India’s first ever fight-week face-off at The Quad by BLR, Terminal 1, Kempegowda International Airport. The session featured official weigh-ins and head-to-head face-offs between the fighters, giving invited media and guests an early look at the matchups ahead of the main event.
The fight night on August 15 featured six preliminary bouts, followed by the Kalaripayattu showcase and seven professional contests. Fighters from across India competed alongside athletes from Nepal, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, reflecting RONIN FC’s ambition to create a platform where Indian talent can compete alongside fighters from established and emerging MMA markets.
The night also saw standout performances across the fight card, with Shusmita of Nepal defeating Shalu Sharma, Ashish Rawat defeating Manoj Ramjali, Dipanjali of Kolkata defeating Lija of Kerala, and Rohit of Mumbai defeating Pankaj Mehra of Delhi.
Reflecting on the significance of the third edition, Arun Kumar Krishnan, Co-Founder & Promoter, RONIN FC, said, “Hosting RONIN FC 3 on Independence Day is deeply meaningful for us. As we celebrate the spirit of a nation built on courage and resilience, we’re proud to provide a platform where Indian athletes compete alongside international talent. Our vision is to build a lasting legacy for mixed martial arts in India and inspire the next generation of champions.”
The event was broadcast in partnership with Locker Room, with campaign metrics indicating a reach of more than 5.7 million, surpassing the audience recorded for the previous edition. The event was supported by SCAR as apparel partner, Aster Hospitals for medical services, CSR Global for travel support, and The Quad by BLR as venue partner.
