Indian undefeated fighter Kaushik Saikumar becomes first Indian MMA fighter to signed with Dana White Contender Series 2025. He is a bantamweight fighter with 5-0 pro-MMA record. Kaushik Saikumar is set to fight against Louis Lee Scott during week 2 of DWCS on August 19, 2025 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Dana White Contender Series is a direct path for the MMA fighter to get the UFC contract and added in UFC roaster list. And if Kaushik Saikumar delivered a standout performance against Louis Lee Scott in DWCS and impressed Dana White then he could join the UFC roaster.
Kaushik Saikumar in Dana White Contender Series is significant mark for the Indian MMA scene at the global level. Kaushik “The Pride of Chennai,” Saikumar represent Chennai, India.
What is Kaushik Saikumar’s fighting style?
Kaushik Saikumar has a diverse mixed martial-arts background including Striking, Grappling and Ground Game.
Striking:
Kaushik Saikumar started with Kyokushin karate around 8+ years, then he expanded into taekwondo, boxing, and Muay Thai. This mix of the skills gives him a dynamic stand-up games.
He also has a powerful leg kicks game including calf kick and lever kick which helps him to defend the opponent takedown attacks.
Kaushik Saikumar’s 5-0 record includes 3 TKOs win which shows his striking abilities.
Ground Game:
Kaushik Saikumar shows his solid takedown defense in his previous fights. He also earned a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu under Ryan Hall at Fifty/50 Academy.
He has won one fight by submission via arm-triangle choke.
Grappling strategies:
Kaushik Saikumar’s grappling game is built on technical precision and positional control, shaped by his training under UFC veteran Ryan Hall at Fifty/50 Martial Arts Academy.
Transition fluidity:
He flows between positions with purpose. For example, he often uses a failed takedown to transition into a body lock or scramble into top control, showing strong mat awareness.
Positional dominance first:
Kaushik Saikumar emphasizes securing dominant positions like back control or mount before hunting for submissions. He doesn’t rush-he isolates limbs and controls hips to limit his opponent’s movement.
Leg lock awareness:
Training under Ryan Hall, a leg lock specialist, has clearly influenced Kaushik’s style. He’s shown comfort in attacking from unconventional angles, especially from guard or half guard, where he can threaten sweeps or submissions.
Submission setups:
His one submission win came via rear-naked choke, but he’s also been seen threatening arm triangles and guillotines. He uses strikes to open up submission opportunities, blending ground-and-pound with grappling threats.
Fight IQ:
Kaushik Saikumar has a good fight IQ with his calmness and calculated approach of striking.
How does Kaushik Saikumar compared to other Indian MMA fighter?
Due to Kaushik Saikumar’s international exposure and technical depth, he stand out one of the most promising indain MMA fighter.
India has produced many notable MMA fighters like Anshul Jubli(Road To UFC winner), Bharat Kandare(1st Indian Fighter in UFC), Ritu Phogat(ONE Championship) and Puja Tomar(1st Indian female fighter in UFC). But Kaushik Saikumar stand out in few key ways :
- Ranked Fighter in U.S: Kaushik Saikumar has 14th rank in US Northeast Pro Men’s Bantamweight which rare for the Indian origin fighter.
- Versatility Skill Set: He has finishes in both Striking and Submissions which shows his all round fighting skills.
- International Training: Kaushik moved to U.S for the MMA traning while most other Indian MMA fighter trained domestically.
Kaushik Saikumar journey from Chennai to U.S inspire the new generation of the Indian MMA fighters.
How does this affect the future of Indian MMA?
Kaushik Saikumar international training shows the Indian MMA fighters are now seeking for the elite level coaching and sparing partners.
Puja Tomar win in UFC also helps Indian female fighter to inspired and reach to the highest level.
Training Infrastructure:
Gyms like Crosstrain Fight Club and KHK MMA are becoming hubs for serious athletes and UFC also showing interest to invest the UFC gym in India. Over the years there are more and more Gyms are open for the MMA training and builing the culture for the MMA in major cities of India.
Global MMA Promotion Investing:
Global MMA promotions are ready to invest in Indian MMA fighters and provide place for the internation fight cards. In future gloabl organizations will host the MMA event in India.
MMA is gaining traction among Indian youth, especially with social media visibility and UFC broadcasts.
In Future:
With India’s massive population and deep martial arts roots like wrestling, wushu and boxing, the most talented prospects are coming at international level like UFC. In future more Indian fighters will come into the DWCS or Road To UFC to get the UFC contract.
This could be the start of a golden era for Indian MMA-if the right support systems fall into place.