Indian MMA Fighter Chungreng Koren’s Emotional ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ Celebration Goes Viral After Massive UFC Win

May 29, 2026: Indian MMA fighter Chungreng Koren created a memorable moment at the Road to UFC event in Macau, China, after defeating previously unbeaten Japanese bantamweight Ryuho Miyaguchi in a thrilling contest. The fighter from Manipur not only impressed fans with his fearless performance inside the cage but also won hearts with his emotional celebration after the victory. Moments after the referee stopped the fight, an emotional Koren shouted “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” inside the arena, proudly celebrating his victory for India on international soil.

“Hum log abki baar jeet gaya, humara Hindustan ke liye, humara desh ke liye,” Koren said emotionally after the fight. The viral celebration quickly spread across social media platforms, with Indian MMA fans praising both his fighting spirit and patriotic emotions. Koren secured the victory through a rear-naked choke submission and handed Miyaguchi the first defeat of his professional MMA career. Throughout the contest, the Indian bantamweight looked composed, aggressive, and technically sharp against one of the most highly rated prospects in the division.

From Depression to Another Shot at the UFC Dream

Koren’s victory becomes even more inspiring considering the difficult journey he has faced over the last year. In 2025, the Manipuri fighter came extremely close to earning a UFC opportunity through the Road to UFC tournament, which serves as the UFC’s official pathway for Asian fighters. However, contractual complications prevented him from participating at the time, crushing a dream he had spent years chasing.

Soon after, Koren suffered another massive setback when he lost his Matrix Fight Night bantamweight title to Nepal’s Rabindra Dhant in August 2025. The defeat deeply affected him emotionally, and the fighter later admitted that he went through depression following the loss. However, quitting was never truly an option for the 28-year-old, who continued training and rebuilding himself mentally and physically.

Speaking about the difficult period, Koren revealed how important the second opportunity felt to him. Initially selected as a backup fighter for Road to UFC Season 5, his chance finally arrived after South Korea’s Shin You-min withdrew due to injury. “I became emotional again because moments like this do not come easily. For me, this feels more like gratitude and another chance to fight for my dream,” Koren said during an interview with Sony Sports Network.

The Struggles Behind Koren’s Rise

Born in Kamu Koireng village in Manipur, Koren’s life has been filled with hardships long before professional MMA entered the picture. His father passed away before he was born, and later the death of his brother in 2019 left him carrying the responsibility of supporting his family. There were moments when continuing in sports felt almost impossible because of financial struggles and personal difficulties.

Koren admitted that his wife and mother played a major role in helping him continue his fighting journey. “Now I fight not only for myself but also for my mother, wife, child, my people and my country,” he explained. He also revealed that there was a period when his life was going in the wrong direction before his family encouraged him to return to sports and continue believing in his dream.

Following the painful defeat to Rabindra Dhant, Koren decided to completely rebuild himself as a fighter. That journey took him to Dagestan, Russia, one of the toughest MMA training environments in the world and home to several UFC champions. Training with elite wrestlers and fighters there helped him improve his technical wrestling, striking, discipline, and overall mindset.

“Earlier, my style was more based on toughness and pressure, but after training there I understood more about technique, timing and finishing,” Koren explained. He admitted that the experience not only improved him as a fighter but also helped him become mentally stronger after the difficult phase of his career.

A Big Moment for Indian MMA

Koren’s success at Road to UFC represents more than just a personal victory. The event in Macau also highlights the growing rise of Indian and South Asian MMA fighters on the international stage. Alongside Koren, India’s UFC fighter Puja Tomar and Nepal’s Rabindra Dhant were also part of the event, showing how rapidly the region’s MMA ecosystem is developing.

The success of Indian fighters in Road to UFC has already created history in recent years. In 2023, Anshul Jubli became the first Indian fighter to earn a UFC contract through the tournament. Koren now hopes to follow the same path and continue inspiring young fighters from Manipur and across India.

“I always want to show that fighters from Manipur and India can reach the highest level if they get support and opportunities,” Koren said. He added that even if he wins or loses, he wants young athletes from similar backgrounds to believe they can dream bigger and work towards opportunities like the UFC.

Possibility of a Rabindra Dhant Rematch

Interestingly, fate may once again bring Koren face-to-face with Rabindra Dhant in the Road to UFC tournament. Both fighters are currently placed on opposite sides of the bracket, meaning a rematch could happen in the final if both continue winning. This time, however, the stakes would be even bigger, with a UFC contract potentially on the line.

Despite the excitement surrounding a possible rematch, Koren remains fully focused on taking things one fight at a time. “Right now my full focus is on the opponent in front of me and performing well in Road to UFC,” he said. “If both of us reach the final, then it will obviously be a very important fight because the stakes will be much bigger.”

A year ago, Chungreng Koren was battling depression after a painful defeat and another missed UFC opportunity. Today, he stands just two wins away from realising the dream he has chased his entire life. His emotional victory over Ryuho Miyaguchi has already become one of the proudest moments for Indian MMA fans and a reminder of how powerful resilience, sacrifice, and belief can truly be.