Shi Ming vs. Puja Tomar: A Strawweight Showcase in Macau

Shi Ming and Puja Tomar are scheduled to headline a UFC Fight Night event at the Galaxy Arena in Macau on Friday, May 29, 2026. This five-round women's strawweight main event, contested at 115 lbs, tops a card that also includes the Road to UFC Season 4 flyweight final. The co-main event will see Namsrai Batbayar face Yin Shuai.

This event is a key part of the Road to UFC series taking place in Macau, China. The highly anticipated bout between Shi Ming and Puja Tomar is positioned as the main draw for Friday during UFC's Macau fight week. The Galaxy Arena, a familiar venue for combat sports in the city, will host the card, where Ming and Tomar will battle for five rounds in the women's strawweight division.

The co-main event will feature the Road to UFC Season 4 flyweight tournament final, pitting Mongolian prospect Namsrai Batbayar (9-1) against Chinese contender Yin Shuai (18-6).

Shi Ming: The Hometown Headliner

Shi Ming, boasting a professional record of 17-6, hails from Kunming, Yunnan, China, and represents China Catch Wrestling. As a strawweight competitor, standing approximately 157 cm tall, her fighting style is a dynamic blend of catch wrestling and evolving striking techniques, leading to a balanced mix of submission and knockout victories.

Shi Ming delivering a kick to Feng Xiaocan during their Women’s Strawweight RTU Tournament Final fight at a UFC Fight Night event in Macau, China, on November 23, 2024.

Ming initially gained significant recognition through the Road to UFC series, triumphing in the Season 3 women's strawweight tournament to earn her UFC contract and become the inaugural Road to UFC women's strawweight champion. Her notoriety further surged following a devastating head-kick knockout that saw her opponent removed from the cage on a stretcher, with footage of the finish widely shared across MMA media and social platforms. This spectacular stoppage, combined with a developing highlight reel of finishes throughout Asia, paved the way for her second UFC main event appearance, despite her current official UFC record standing at 0-1 after a decision loss to Bruna Brasil in a prior Road to UFC main event.

Beyond the octagon, Ming garnered attention for balancing medical studies with her demanding training schedule. Her family was reportedly unaware of her professional MMA career until her viral knockout brought sudden public recognition. This unique juxtaposition of a medical student by day and a fierce fighter by night has become a compelling narrative in the UFC's promotion of her as a rising Chinese star.

Puja Tomar: India's Trailblazer

Facing Ming will be Puja "The Cyclone" Tomar, entering the fight with a professional record of 9-5. Hailing from Budhana, India, Tomar frequently trains with Soma Fight Club and often establishes her training camps in Bali. She previously held the Matrix Fight Night (MFN) strawweight title, establishing herself as a prominent figure in India's premier domestic promotion before re-signing with the UFC.

Puja Tomar of India landing a punch on Rayanne dos Santos of Brazil during a strawweight fight at a UFC Fight Night event in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 08, 2024.

In 2023, Tomar achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian-born woman to sign with the UFC. She further cemented her legacy in June 2024, securing a split decision victory over Rayanne dos Santos at UFC on ESPN 57, thus becoming the first Indian woman to win a UFC bout. Her current UFC record is 1-1, following a submission loss via armbar to Shauna Bannon in March 2025. Despite this, her aggressive approach in striking exchanges has resulted in six career knockout wins and several quick first-round finishes, some under 30 seconds.

For Shi Ming, a victory in Macau would not only be her inaugural UFC win but would also validate her Road to UFC tournament success as a legitimate springboard into the division's upper ranks. Conversely, for Puja Tomar, defeating a prominent Chinese fighter on Asian soil would significantly boost her standing as India's foremost MMA export, potentially leading to matchups against ranked opponents, and adding another significant achievement to her role as India's pioneering and sole female UFC representative.