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'The Indian Tigress' Ritu Phogat is just weeks away from the biggest fight of her career thus far. The Indian MMA sensation will face Stamp Fairtex in the final of the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix Championship on 3 December at ONE: Winter Warriors.
The winner of the event, which takes place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, will go on to challenge Angela Lee for the ONE Championship women's atomweight title.
Ahead of the fight, Sportskeeda MMA caught up with Ritu Phogat to discuss Conor McGregor's future in MMA and her upcoming fight. The Indian Tigress also spoke about why wrestling is superior to other martial arts, how it represents a billion-strong population in the sport, and much more.
Ritu Phogat believes McGregor will always be a champion
Ritu Phogat was full of praise for former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor and his achievements inside the octagon.
McGregor had recently taken to Twitter to give a shoutout to the Indian fighter ahead of her next fight. Now, Phogat has returned the favor with some kind words for the Irishman.
During her interaction with Sportskeeda, Phogat hailed McGregor as the most popular combat sports athlete on the planet who continues to be an elite fighter.
There's been a lot of debate about whether McGregor will be the same fighter again following his leg injury at UFC 264. Ritu Phogat, however, believes McGregor will once again prove to the world that he "was, is and will always" be a true champion of the sport.
"Whenever we talk about MMA, the first name that pops up is Conor. He is a high-level fighter and knowing that he has such immense support behind him, he will definitely work harder than ever to make a successful return. I believe he will make a successful comeback and once again prove to the world that he was, is and will always remain a champion."
McGregor is currently recovering from the gruesome leg injury he suffered in his trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier. The 33-year-old won't step inside the octagon for the remainder of 2021, but is expected to return sometime next year.
Phogat looks forward to showcasing her improved striking skills in upcoming Grand Prix final
Ritu Phogat is aware that her upcoming opponent is a lethal striker with a solid takedown defense.
While she was reluctant to go into details of her preparation, Phogat told Sportskeeda she has watched Fairtex's previous fights to get a better understanding of how to penetrate her defense.
"I have looked into footage from many of her previous fights and I know she has a strong takedown defense. However, I already have a strategy in place and will show it to the world on December 3."
As evidenced by her last fight, Ritu Phogat's striking skills have improved by leaps and bounds. At the same time, Fairtex is one of the best strikers in the ONE atomweight division, so Phogat has to be wary of her knockout power at all times.
The Indian, however, remains fully confident about the improvements she's made in terms of striking. She is eager to surprise the fans with the new weapons in her arsenal if the fight stays on the feet.
"People will be shocked when they see my striking game in this fight. People haven't seen much of my striking in my previous fights but you'll see it this time."
'The Indian Tigress' explains why wrestling is superior to other forms of martial arts
Ritu Phogat also explained why fighters from a wrestling background hold an edge over fighters belonging to other martial arts backgrounds. She pointed out that the best competitors across various weight classes in multiple promotions come from wrestling backgrounds.
According to Ritu Phogat, the ability to take the fight to the ground at any point in time and being able to control the fight thereafter is what gives wrestlers the edge over fighters from other martial arts backgrounds.
"If you take a look at the top-10 best fighters right now, seven of them are wrestlers. Wrestlers have an edge because they can score takedowns and control the fight on the ground with more ease compared to fighters from other martial art backgrounds like boxing, kickboxing etc."
Phogat's earnest plea to the government to help MMA grow into a mainstream sport in India
Ritu Phogat could become the first Indian to win an MMA world championship title on a global stage. If she does become a titleholder, Phogat hopes to inspire the Indian youth and encourage them to follow in her footsteps, thus making MMA a mainstream sport across the country.
'The Indian Tigress' stated that MMA is a budding sport in the country and that with every passing day, the interest and intrigue surrounding it seem to be increasing among Indians.
Keeping that in mind, Ritu Phogat wants the Indian government to set up proper infrastructure for the development of MMA in the country and to help budding fighters who want to make it as professionals in the fight game.
"MMA didn't get the required support from the government or elsewhere to grow into a mainstream sport in the country [India]. However, over the past few years, there has been a surge in popularity of the sport in the country. People are taking an interest in the sport and the media is also promoting it aggressively. MMA fighters also represent the country and I request the government to step forward and help the youth of the country in taking up the sport professionally."
