From leaving a corporate career to producing India’s first UFC fighter, Siddharth Singh’s journey is transforming Mixed Martial Arts in India.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has exploded into one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. While countries like the United States, Brazil, and Russia have spent decades building elite fighters, India is only beginning to make its mark. Yet in recent years, Indian athletes have started stepping onto the biggest stage of them all—the UFC.
Behind this transformation is Siddharth Singh, one of the pioneers of Indian MMA. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, multiple-time submission grappling world champion, and founder of Cross Train Fight Club, Singh has dedicated nearly three decades to developing combat sports in India. In a recent conversation with Aaj Tak Radio, he shared his remarkable journey—from reluctant school boxer to one of the most influential figures in Indian MMA.
Ironically, Siddharth Singh never planned to become a fighter.
As a student at The Doon School, he was encouraged—almost forced—by seniors to participate in boxing competitions. What started as an obligation soon became an obsession. Unlike choreographed martial arts demonstrations, boxing demanded real competition, quick thinking, and complete focus.
After school, Singh moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master’s degree in Economics. While searching for a boxing club, he discovered Muay Thai, a striking art that introduced kicks, elbows, knees, and clinch fighting. That experience opened the door to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and eventually Mixed Martial Arts.
Without realizing it, he was building the complete skill set that would define his career.
After completing his education, Singh secured a stable corporate job in the UK.
On paper, everything looked perfect.
But there was one problem.
Every day, he found himself counting the hours until evening training.
His passion wasn’t inside the office—it was inside the gym.
Instead of spending his life wondering “what if,” Singh made a bold decision. He left the security of corporate life and returned to India with a dream that many believed was impossible: to build a professional MMA ecosystem in a country where the sport barely existed.
When Singh returned, India had almost no professional MMA infrastructure.
There were very few qualified coaches, almost no organized tournaments, and little public awareness of the sport.
Instead of waiting for someone else to change things, he founded Cross Train Fight Club.
His goal wasn’t simply to train fighters.
He wanted to create a culture where athletes believed they could compete internationally.
That meant becoming more than just a coach. Singh became a mentor, competitor, businessman, curriculum developer, and ambassador for the sport.
Over time, Cross Train Fight Club became one of India’s most respected MMA academies.
One of Siddharth Singh’s greatest achievements has been mentoring Anshul Jubli, the first Indian male fighter to earn a UFC contract.
Jubli’s journey wasn’t based on luck.
He first dominated Indian promotions before receiving an invitation to compete in Road to UFC, a tournament featuring Asia’s top MMA prospects.
Winning the tournament required victories in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals against elite competition.
When Jubli secured the championship and earned his UFC contract, it wasn’t just a personal victory—it was a landmark moment for Indian MMA. It proved that Indian fighters could compete with the world’s best.
Many casual fans still compare UFC with WWE.
Siddharth Singh makes one thing very clear:
UFC is real competition. WWE is sports entertainment.
While WWE storylines are scripted, UFC outcomes cannot be controlled.
Promoters can build hype before a fight, but once the cage door closes, everything depends on the athletes.
Every punch, takedown, submission attempt, and knockout is genuine.
That unpredictability is what makes MMA one of the most exciting sports in the world.
One of the biggest misconceptions about MMA is that it promotes violence.
According to Singh, the opposite is true.
The majority of students who join his academy never plan to become professional fighters.
They come for:
Training teaches people how to remain calm under pressure, solve problems, and control emotions rather than react impulsively.
In fact, Singh recalls a real-life road rage incident where his martial arts training allowed him to control an aggressive individual without throwing a single punch. Instead of escalating the situation, he safely restrained the person until the conflict ended peacefully.
At the entrance of Cross Train Fight Club is a message every student sees before stepping onto the mats:
“Leave your shoes and your ego outside.”
That philosophy captures everything martial arts stands for.
Every training session exposes weaknesses.
Every mistake becomes a lesson.
Instead of fearing failure, martial artists learn to embrace it.
As Singh explains, beginners start as the “nail,” getting hammered by more experienced athletes. Over time, through consistency and patience, they eventually become the “hammer,” helping the next generation improve.
It’s a powerful metaphor not just for fighting—but for life itself.
Gone are the days when training harder was enough.
Elite MMA has become a science.
Professional fighters now monitor sleep, nutrition, hydration, strength, mobility, and recovery with incredible precision.
During his visit to the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, Singh witnessed firsthand how every aspect of an athlete’s performance is measured and optimized.
At the highest level, small improvements can make the difference between winning and losing.
Indian MMA is still in its early stages, but the momentum is undeniable.
Athletes like Anshul Jubli and Puja Tomar have shown that Indians can compete at the highest level, inspiring a new generation of fighters.
More academies are opening.
More young athletes are entering the sport.
More parents are beginning to view MMA as a legitimate career.
Much of that progress can be traced back to pioneers like Siddharth Singh, who chose to build an ecosystem instead of chasing personal glory.
Siddharth Singh’s story is about far more than championships or medals.
It’s about building something that didn’t exist.
By leaving behind a comfortable career and dedicating his life to martial arts, he has helped transform MMA from an unknown sport into a growing movement across India.
His journey reminds us that success isn’t built overnight. It comes through discipline, humility, relentless learning, and the courage to pursue a vision others cannot yet see.
As Indian MMA continues to grow, Siddharth Singh’s contribution will remain one of the foundations on which the sport was built.
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From leaving a corporate career to producing India’s first UFC fighter, Siddharth Singh’s journey is transforming Mixed Martial Arts in India.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has exploded into one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. While countries like the United States, Brazil, and Russia have spent decades building elite fighters, India is only beginning to make its mark. Yet in recent years, Indian athletes have started stepping onto the biggest stage of them all—the UFC.
Behind this transformation is Siddharth Singh, one of the pioneers of Indian MMA. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, multiple-time submission grappling world champion, and founder of Cross Train Fight Club, Singh has dedicated nearly three decades to developing combat sports in India. In a recent conversation with Aaj Tak Radio, he shared his remarkable journey—from reluctant school boxer to one of the most influential figures in Indian MMA.
Ironically, Siddharth Singh never planned to become a fighter.
As a student at The Doon School, he was encouraged—almost forced—by seniors to participate in boxing competitions. What started as an obligation soon became an obsession. Unlike choreographed martial arts demonstrations, boxing demanded real competition, quick thinking, and complete focus.
After school, Singh moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master’s degree in Economics. While searching for a boxing club, he discovered Muay Thai, a striking art that introduced kicks, elbows, knees, and clinch fighting. That experience opened the door to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and eventually Mixed Martial Arts.
Without realizing it, he was building the complete skill set that would define his career.
After completing his education, Singh secured a stable corporate job in the UK.
On paper, everything looked perfect.
But there was one problem.
Every day, he found himself counting the hours until evening training.
His passion wasn’t inside the office—it was inside the gym.
Instead of spending his life wondering “what if,” Singh made a bold decision. He left the security of corporate life and returned to India with a dream that many believed was impossible: to build a professional MMA ecosystem in a country where the sport barely existed.
When Singh returned, India had almost no professional MMA infrastructure.
There were very few qualified coaches, almost no organized tournaments, and little public awareness of the sport.
Instead of waiting for someone else to change things, he founded Cross Train Fight Club.
His goal wasn’t simply to train fighters.
He wanted to create a culture where athletes believed they could compete internationally.
That meant becoming more than just a coach. Singh became a mentor, competitor, businessman, curriculum developer, and ambassador for the sport.
Over time, Cross Train Fight Club became one of India’s most respected MMA academies.
One of Siddharth Singh’s greatest achievements has been mentoring Anshul Jubli, the first Indian male fighter to earn a UFC contract.
Jubli’s journey wasn’t based on luck.
He first dominated Indian promotions before receiving an invitation to compete in Road to UFC, a tournament featuring Asia’s top MMA prospects.
Winning the tournament required victories in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals against elite competition.
When Jubli secured the championship and earned his UFC contract, it wasn’t just a personal victory—it was a landmark moment for Indian MMA. It proved that Indian fighters could compete with the world’s best.
Many casual fans still compare UFC with WWE.
Siddharth Singh makes one thing very clear:
UFC is real competition. WWE is sports entertainment.
While WWE storylines are scripted, UFC outcomes cannot be controlled.
Promoters can build hype before a fight, but once the cage door closes, everything depends on the athletes.
Every punch, takedown, submission attempt, and knockout is genuine.
That unpredictability is what makes MMA one of the most exciting sports in the world.
One of the biggest misconceptions about MMA is that it promotes violence.
According to Singh, the opposite is true.
The majority of students who join his academy never plan to become professional fighters.
They come for:
Training teaches people how to remain calm under pressure, solve problems, and control emotions rather than react impulsively.
In fact, Singh recalls a real-life road rage incident where his martial arts training allowed him to control an aggressive individual without throwing a single punch. Instead of escalating the situation, he safely restrained the person until the conflict ended peacefully.
At the entrance of Cross Train Fight Club is a message every student sees before stepping onto the mats:
“Leave your shoes and your ego outside.”
That philosophy captures everything martial arts stands for.
Every training session exposes weaknesses.
Every mistake becomes a lesson.
Instead of fearing failure, martial artists learn to embrace it.
As Singh explains, beginners start as the “nail,” getting hammered by more experienced athletes. Over time, through consistency and patience, they eventually become the “hammer,” helping the next generation improve.
It’s a powerful metaphor not just for fighting—but for life itself.
Gone are the days when training harder was enough.
Elite MMA has become a science.
Professional fighters now monitor sleep, nutrition, hydration, strength, mobility, and recovery with incredible precision.
During his visit to the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, Singh witnessed firsthand how every aspect of an athlete’s performance is measured and optimized.
At the highest level, small improvements can make the difference between winning and losing.
Indian MMA is still in its early stages, but the momentum is undeniable.
Athletes like Anshul Jubli and Puja Tomar have shown that Indians can compete at the highest level, inspiring a new generation of fighters.
More academies are opening.
More young athletes are entering the sport.
More parents are beginning to view MMA as a legitimate career.
Much of that progress can be traced back to pioneers like Siddharth Singh, who chose to build an ecosystem instead of chasing personal glory.
Siddharth Singh’s story is about far more than championships or medals.
It’s about building something that didn’t exist.
By leaving behind a comfortable career and dedicating his life to martial arts, he has helped transform MMA from an unknown sport into a growing movement across India.
His journey reminds us that success isn’t built overnight. It comes through discipline, humility, relentless learning, and the courage to pursue a vision others cannot yet see.
As Indian MMA continues to grow, Siddharth Singh’s contribution will remain one of the foundations on which the sport was built.
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