Punyajit Likharu Set to Make History as India’s First Fighter at WOW FC

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Indian MMA is heading towards another international milestone. Punyajit Likharu, a fighter associated with Crosstrain Fight Club, is set to compete at WOW Fighting Championship, the Spanish MMA promotion backed by UFC champion Ilia Topuria and global football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Punyajit is scheduled to face Vincenzo Bussolotti at WOW 33: Vitoria on 24 October 2026 at the Buesa Arena in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. The matchup marks a significant opportunity for the Indian bantamweight to compete on an international platform attracting growing attention across the MMA world. Official WOW 33 fight card.

For Crosstrain Fight Club, this is another important moment in its ongoing effort to develop Indian fighters and create pathways to international competition.

What Is WOW FC?

WOW FC, short for Way of Warrior Fighting Championship, is a Spanish mixed martial arts promotion founded in 2019 and based in Madrid.

The organisation has attracted global attention through its connection with Ilia Topuria, a UFC champion who became a prominent shareholder, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who announced his investment in the promotion in November 2025. Their involvement brought another level of international visibility to WOW FC and its ambitions for MMA. Source: The Independent.

For an Indian fighter, competing under this banner represents an opportunity to perform in an international environment associated with some of the biggest names in global sport.

The significance is not simply about the names behind the promotion. It is about the chance to compete against international opposition, gain experience and demonstrate the quality of Indian MMA.

Punyajit Likharu: Representing Indian MMA on an International Stage

Punyajit Likharu is an Indian professional MMA fighter who has competed across multiple promotions during his career.

He is associated with Crosstrain Fight Club, where he has trained under coach Siddharth Singh. His experience includes appearances in competitions such as Matrix Fight Night, the Indian Fighting League and BRAVE Combat Federation. Source: LockerRoom India.

These experiences have helped him build a competitive foundation before taking on this new opportunity in Spain.

His appearance at WOW FC places him in a different international setting, where he will have to bring together his preparation, technical skills and fight strategy against a new opponent.

For aspiring Indian fighters, opportunities of this kind demonstrate the importance of developing a professional record, gaining experience across promotions and continuing to pursue international competition.

Punyajit Likharu vs Vincenzo Bussolotti at WOW 33

The scheduled matchup at WOW 33 will see Punyajit face Italian fighter Vincenzo Bussolotti, who enters the contest with an undefeated professional record of 2 wins and 0 losses, according to the published fight coverage. Punyajit is listed with a professional record of 5 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. Fight details and records.

That makes this an important competitive test for both athletes.

Bussolotti will look to continue his winning run, while Punyajit has the opportunity to add another international result to his career.

The matchup is scheduled for WOW 33: Vitoria on Saturday, 24 October 2026, at the Buesa Arena in Spain.

For Punyajit, the task is straightforward: prepare properly, execute his game plan and make the most of the opportunity in front of him.

Why This Opportunity Matters for Indian MMA

International MMA promotions provide fighters with opportunities to test themselves outside their domestic circuits.

Competing abroad can expose athletes to different styles, training systems, competitive expectations and professional environments. These experiences can contribute to a fighter’s development and help raise visibility for Indian MMA.

Punyajit’s scheduled appearance at WOW FC is particularly notable because the promotion has attracted attention through its association with Ilia Topuria and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The opportunity places an Indian athlete on a platform connected to a growing international MMA brand.

It also reinforces an important message for upcoming fighters in India: developing a competitive career requires more than training hard. Athletes need experience, consistent preparation, professional discipline and opportunities to compete against increasingly challenging opponents.

Crosstrain Fight Club’s Role in Developing Indian Fighters

Crosstrain Fight Club has worked to develop Indian athletes across MMA and other combat sports disciplines.

The club’s competitive team includes fighters such as Anshul Jubli, Gaurav Gulliya and Punyajit Likharu, who have competed across the Indian and international fight scene. Its broader training programmes include MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, boxing and Muay Thai. Source: Crosstrain Fight Club.

The objective is to build complete fighters by developing both striking and grappling skills.

For MMA athletes, this means learning to connect wrestling, ground control, submissions and striking into a coherent competitive approach.

Punyajit’s international opportunities reflect the broader ambition of providing Indian athletes with an environment in which they can develop their skills and pursue higher levels of competition.

From India to International MMA

India has a growing pool of MMA athletes, but international opportunities remain an important part of the sport’s development.

Fighters need opportunities to test themselves, gain experience and establish their names through performances against quality opposition.

A scheduled appearance at WOW FC offers Punyajit another chance to do that.

It can also create greater visibility for Indian MMA among international fans who may not regularly follow the domestic scene.

Every athlete who competes internationally helps bring more attention to the training, preparation and talent developing within India’s combat sports community.

A New Opportunity for Indian MMA

Punyajit Likharu’s scheduled fight at WOW 33 is an important opportunity for both the fighter and Indian MMA.

Competing on a card associated with a promotion backed by Ilia Topuria and Cristiano Ronaldo places the matchup in an international spotlight.

For Crosstrain Fight Club, the contest continues its competitive journey of developing athletes and helping them pursue opportunities beyond India’s domestic fight circuit.

For Punyajit, the immediate focus remains on the opponent in front of him.

The event is scheduled for 24 October 2026 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, where he is due to face Vincenzo Bussolotti.

A major international opportunity awaits Punyajit Likharu, and Indian MMA will be watching.

Punyajit Likharu Set to Make History as India’s First Fighter at WOW FC

blank

Indian MMA is heading towards another international milestone. Punyajit Likharu, a fighter associated with Crosstrain Fight Club, is set to compete at WOW Fighting Championship, the Spanish MMA promotion backed by UFC champion Ilia Topuria and global football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Punyajit is scheduled to face Vincenzo Bussolotti at WOW 33: Vitoria on 24 October 2026 at the Buesa Arena in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. The matchup marks a significant opportunity for the Indian bantamweight to compete on an international platform attracting growing attention across the MMA world. Official WOW 33 fight card.

For Crosstrain Fight Club, this is another important moment in its ongoing effort to develop Indian fighters and create pathways to international competition.

What Is WOW FC?

WOW FC, short for Way of Warrior Fighting Championship, is a Spanish mixed martial arts promotion founded in 2019 and based in Madrid.

The organisation has attracted global attention through its connection with Ilia Topuria, a UFC champion who became a prominent shareholder, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who announced his investment in the promotion in November 2025. Their involvement brought another level of international visibility to WOW FC and its ambitions for MMA. Source: The Independent.

For an Indian fighter, competing under this banner represents an opportunity to perform in an international environment associated with some of the biggest names in global sport.

The significance is not simply about the names behind the promotion. It is about the chance to compete against international opposition, gain experience and demonstrate the quality of Indian MMA.

Punyajit Likharu: Representing Indian MMA on an International Stage

Punyajit Likharu is an Indian professional MMA fighter who has competed across multiple promotions during his career.

He is associated with Crosstrain Fight Club, where he has trained under coach Siddharth Singh. His experience includes appearances in competitions such as Matrix Fight Night, the Indian Fighting League and BRAVE Combat Federation. Source: LockerRoom India.

These experiences have helped him build a competitive foundation before taking on this new opportunity in Spain.

His appearance at WOW FC places him in a different international setting, where he will have to bring together his preparation, technical skills and fight strategy against a new opponent.

For aspiring Indian fighters, opportunities of this kind demonstrate the importance of developing a professional record, gaining experience across promotions and continuing to pursue international competition.

Punyajit Likharu vs Vincenzo Bussolotti at WOW 33

The scheduled matchup at WOW 33 will see Punyajit face Italian fighter Vincenzo Bussolotti, who enters the contest with an undefeated professional record of 2 wins and 0 losses, according to the published fight coverage. Punyajit is listed with a professional record of 5 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. Fight details and records.

That makes this an important competitive test for both athletes.

Bussolotti will look to continue his winning run, while Punyajit has the opportunity to add another international result to his career.

The matchup is scheduled for WOW 33: Vitoria on Saturday, 24 October 2026, at the Buesa Arena in Spain.

For Punyajit, the task is straightforward: prepare properly, execute his game plan and make the most of the opportunity in front of him.

Why This Opportunity Matters for Indian MMA

International MMA promotions provide fighters with opportunities to test themselves outside their domestic circuits.

Competing abroad can expose athletes to different styles, training systems, competitive expectations and professional environments. These experiences can contribute to a fighter’s development and help raise visibility for Indian MMA.

Punyajit’s scheduled appearance at WOW FC is particularly notable because the promotion has attracted attention through its association with Ilia Topuria and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The opportunity places an Indian athlete on a platform connected to a growing international MMA brand.

It also reinforces an important message for upcoming fighters in India: developing a competitive career requires more than training hard. Athletes need experience, consistent preparation, professional discipline and opportunities to compete against increasingly challenging opponents.

Crosstrain Fight Club’s Role in Developing Indian Fighters

Crosstrain Fight Club has worked to develop Indian athletes across MMA and other combat sports disciplines.

The club’s competitive team includes fighters such as Anshul Jubli, Gaurav Gulliya and Punyajit Likharu, who have competed across the Indian and international fight scene. Its broader training programmes include MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, boxing and Muay Thai. Source: Crosstrain Fight Club.

The objective is to build complete fighters by developing both striking and grappling skills.

For MMA athletes, this means learning to connect wrestling, ground control, submissions and striking into a coherent competitive approach.

Punyajit’s international opportunities reflect the broader ambition of providing Indian athletes with an environment in which they can develop their skills and pursue higher levels of competition.

From India to International MMA

India has a growing pool of MMA athletes, but international opportunities remain an important part of the sport’s development.

Fighters need opportunities to test themselves, gain experience and establish their names through performances against quality opposition.

A scheduled appearance at WOW FC offers Punyajit another chance to do that.

It can also create greater visibility for Indian MMA among international fans who may not regularly follow the domestic scene.

Every athlete who competes internationally helps bring more attention to the training, preparation and talent developing within India’s combat sports community.

A New Opportunity for Indian MMA

Punyajit Likharu’s scheduled fight at WOW 33 is an important opportunity for both the fighter and Indian MMA.

Competing on a card associated with a promotion backed by Ilia Topuria and Cristiano Ronaldo places the matchup in an international spotlight.

For Crosstrain Fight Club, the contest continues its competitive journey of developing athletes and helping them pursue opportunities beyond India’s domestic fight circuit.

For Punyajit, the immediate focus remains on the opponent in front of him.

The event is scheduled for 24 October 2026 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, where he is due to face Vincenzo Bussolotti.

A major international opportunity awaits Punyajit Likharu, and Indian MMA will be watching.