Who is Vikas Singh Ruhil: First Indian MMA fighter to compete in Professional League

The 30-year-old will be eager to make a mark in his upcoming MMA games and bring laurels to the nation.

Vikas Singh Ruhil scripted history by becoming the first Indian MMA fighter to compete at the Professional Fighters League (PFL) on March 4, 2023. He squared off with James Gonzalez in Orlando, Florida in the United States. Going to the fight, Vikas had 12 wins and six losses under his possession. Gonzalez, on the other hand, had registered nine wins and five losses, having never been knocked out in his MMA career. However, the fight didn’t go in favour of the Indian MMA star, Gonzalez secured a comprehensive victory via TKO. 

Although he couldn’t create a lasting impression in the PFL SmartCage, his name would still be etched in Indian sporting history. In an interview with LockerRoom India, Vikas revealed that he received the offer to join the American mixed martial arts league during his recovery phase.

He had taken a break for almost 2.5 years, owing to surgery. For Vikas, the initial ten days after surgery were a bit tough. He continued his rehab in Delhi for some time and then came back to Mumbai for a few months.

Vikas Singh Ruhil's debut

Jitendra Khare, the owner and head coach of Team Relentless which is India's topmost MMA team, played an instrumental role in Vikas Singh Ruhil’s debut at PFL. From Vikas’ emails to all the important paperwork, the longtime coach of Vikas handled everything. It took almost five to six months for the execution of all the procedures.

According to Vikas, it was all Jitendra’s work and all he had to do was focus on his gameplay. From the time he received the offer, he hadn’t looked back and solely concentrated on his training. 

He is now representing the country in the featherweight category. According to him, his height is best suited for the division. He had fought in the featherweight category in the Super Fight League beforehand. Before his fight in Orlando, he was unbeaten in his last seven fights. Presently, he is training with team Relentless for about five to six years. Born on January 12, 1993, Vikas switched to the MMA sport, after trying his hands at Wrestling, BodyBuilding, and Powerlifting. 

Although Vikas Singh Ruhil faced a defeat in his last match, there is no doubt that he will bounce back stronger than ever. He will be eager to make a mark in his upcoming MMA games and bring laurels to the nation.