Jharkhand’s tribal MMA fighter Devgan Marandi eyes global glory
Pioneer News Service
Ranchi/Godda
In a small village in Jharkhand’s Santhal Pargana, a 21-year-old tribal youth has become the centre of attention after creating history in mixed martial arts (MMA). Returning home days after winning an international title, Devgan Marandi received a grand traditional welcome with Santhali music, drums and folk dances. Villagers, local leaders and public representatives gathered to congratulate the young fighter whose remarkable journey from a humble tribal family to the international MMA arena has become a source of pride for the region.
On June 27, Marandi stunned spectators at the Elite Contender Series (ECS) in Kolkata by knocking out Nepal’s Sunil Punn in just 17 seconds in the 66 kg category. The emphatic victory earned him the championship title and marked one of the biggest achievements by an MMA fighter from Jharkhand. With only three-and-a-half years of professional experience, Marandi defeated an opponent who had nearly twice as much experience inside the cage.
Mixed Martial Arts, one of the world’s fastest-growing combat sports, combines striking, wrestling and grappling techniques. While the sport has gained significant popularity across India over the past two decades, particularly in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata, participation from tribal communities remains limited. Marandi hopes to change that.
A resident of Nima village in the Lalmatia area of Godda district, Marandi was born into a modest Santhal family. He is the fourth among eight siblings—seven brothers and one sister. His father, Sanjala Marandi, worked as a dumper driver with Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), while his mother, Phulmani Tudu, managed the household.
Marandi completed his schooling at Mahagama Bethel Mission School and passed his Class XII examination with first division. Like many young Indians, he dreamed of joining the Indian Armed Forces. Carrying just ₹50,000, he moved to Delhi to prepare for the National Defence Academy (NDA) examination. However, after failing to secure admission, his dream of serving in the Air Force came to an end.
While living in Delhi, his roommates frequently watched Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events and discussed legendary fighters. Inspired by the sport, Marandi enrolled at the House of Gladiator training academy in East Kailash, New Delhi, where he began formal MMA training. Today, he credits coaches Sadiq, Rajesh and Aditya for shaping his career.
“I wanted to do something different for my community,” Marandi says. “I wanted tribal youth to believe that they can succeed in any field if they are determined.”
His road to success has been anything but easy. Three years ago, his father retired from service, placing the family under severe financial strain. Living in Delhi became increasingly difficult as training expenses, rent and nutritional requirements far exceeded what his family could afford.
“My monthly expenses are around ₹35,000 to ₹40,000, but I receive only about ₹10,000 from home,” he says. To bridge the gap, Marandi took up part-time jobs. Besides academic work, he even swept and cleaned the training academy to receive concessions on coaching fees.
Professional MMA demands a strict nutritional programme rich in protein and essential supplements. But Marandi admits there were days when he entered training sessions without having eaten properly. “There were times when I stepped into the ring on an empty stomach. Hunger never stopped me because my dream was bigger than my circumstances,” he says.
His determination has yielded impressive results. In just 40 months, Marandi has built a competitive record of 18 professional fights, including 14 MMA bouts, winning 11 and losing only three. Now, his focus has shifted to the Immortal Fighting Championship, scheduled for August 30 in Bengaluru. He will return to Delhi on July 14 to begin an intensive training camp ahead of the tournament.
However, finances remain his biggest obstacle.Marandi says he urgently needs sponsorship to cover training costs, equipment, travel, nutrition and accommodation. He hopes both the government and private organisations will support promising athletes from economically weaker backgrounds.
His long-term ambition is to compete on the world’s biggest MMA platforms. Inspired by UFC legends Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, Marandi dreams of one day sharing the cage with the sport’s elite while proudly representing India.
“I don’t just want to become a champion,” he says. “I want to prove that Santhal and tribal youth are second to none.”
Beyond his personal aspirations, Marandi hopes his success will encourage more tribal youngsters to explore combat sports, an area where representation from indigenous communities remains limited despite their immense athletic potential.
He has appealed to the people of Jharkhand to watch and support his upcoming bout live, saying that public encouragement gives athletes the confidence to perform at their best.
From sweeping gym floors to winning an international title in just 17 seconds, Devgan Marandi’s journey is a powerful story of resilience, sacrifice and ambition. If given the right support, the young fighter from a remote Santhal village could soon become one of India’s brightest names in global mixed martial arts.
