Digamber Singh Rawat: Uttarakhand's MFN Lightweight World Champion
From a Remote Village in Chamoli to a World Championship Belt
Digamber Singh Rawat is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter from Uttarakhand who became the Matrix Fight Night (MFN) Lightweight World Champion in May 2026. Fighting out of the Mutant MMA Academy in Dehradun, he remains unbeaten as a professional, and his rise from a small hill village to a world title has made him one of the most talked about combat-sports athletes to emerge from the state.
Early Life: Growing Up in Aali Village, Chamoli
Digamber Singh Rawat was born around 1999 and hails from Aali village in the Gairsain block of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. He completed his schooling up to the 10th standard at Shri Guru Ram Rai (SGRR) Public School, Aadibadri, before finishing his later schooling at SGRR Public School, Karnprayag.
Growing up in a remote Himalayan village with limited sporting infrastructure, Rawat's path into professional combat sports was unconventional, built through determination rather than early access to specialised training facilities.
Training at Mutant MMA Academy, Dehradun
Rawat now trains out of the Mutant MMA Academy in Dehradun, where he has credited coaches Angad Bisht, wrestling coach Vishu, and coach Carlos Perez for shaping his skill set across striking, wrestling, and ground fighting – the core disciplines of mixed martial arts.
Fellow Uttarakhand fighter Angad Bisht, from neighbouring Rudraprayag district, has trained and competed alongside Rawat on multiple MFN cards, with the two often described together as the leading faces of Uttarakhand's growing MMA scene.
Uttarakhand's MMA journey has also been represented on the global stage by Anshul Jubli, who became the first Indian fighter to win a bout under the UFC banner.
Early Career: A Breakthrough in Dubai
One of Rawat's earliest major achievements came in November 2022, when, at the age of 23, he won the lightweight title at the International Mixed Martial Arts Championship held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, defeating opponent Akib Ali. The win was celebrated widely back home, with residents of Chamoli reportedly gathering around a large screen at the local Gauchar Fair to watch the fight live.
Around the same period, Rawat also competed on the Matrix Fight Night (MFN) circuit in India, recording a win at the promotion's ninth edition held in Delhi in June 2022, on the same card as training partner Angad Bisht.
Becoming MFN Lightweight World Champion
Rawat continued to build an unbeaten professional record on the MFN circuit over the following years. The defining moment of his career came on 2 May 2026 at Matrix Fight Night 18 (MFN-18), held at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Indoor Sports Complex in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
In the event's co-main event, Rawat faced Indonesian fighter Angga Hans for the vacant MFN Lightweight World Title. He won the fight via first-round technical knockout (TKO), capturing the belt and extending his professional record to 7 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws.
Recognition from the State: CM Dhami's Felicitation
Following his world title win, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami felicitated Digamber Singh Rawat at the Chief Minister's residence, praising him for bringing pride to the state through his talent, hard work, and determination. Dhami noted that Rawat's achievement served as an inspiration to the state's youth and reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting emerging sporting talent from Uttarakhand.
Rawat's homecoming was equally celebratory – when he returned to Aali village after the win, residents welcomed him with traditional dance and festivities, marking the historic achievement for the small Himalayan community.
Professional Fight Record
Digamber Singh Rawat holds an unbeaten professional MMA record, ranked among the top lightweight fighters in the Asia South region.
| Date | Event | Opponent | Method | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jun 2022 | MFN 9, New Delhi | – | – | Win |
| Nov 2022 | Intl. MMA Championship, Dubai (UAE) | Akib Ali | Decision/Points | Win – Lightweight Title |
| Additional professional wins on the MFN circuit (2023–2025) extended his unbeaten streak to 6-0 | ||||
| 2 May 2026 | MFN 18, Greater Noida | Angga Hans (Indonesia) | TKO, Round 1 | Win – MFN Lightweight World Title |
As of his title-winning bout, Rawat's professional record stood at 7 wins, 0 losses, 0 draws, with rankings placing him as the #2 Pro Men's Lightweight fighter in the Asia South region.
Rankings & Recognition
MFN World Champion
Lightweight World Title, MFN-18
#2 Asia South Lightweight
Regional MMA ranking (Tapology)
CM Felicitation
Honoured by Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
Legacy: Putting Uttarakhand on the Global MMA Map
Digamber Singh Rawat's rise is significant for more than his own unbeaten record.
He is widely regarded as:
- Uttarakhand's first MFN Lightweight World Champion, and one of the state's most prominent MMA exports
- Part of a growing wave of fighters from Chamoli and Rudraprayag, alongside training partner Angad Bisht, putting the hill state on India's combat-sports map
- An inspiration for youth in remote Himalayan districts with limited access to formal sporting infrastructure
From a village in the hills of Gairsain to a world title belt in Greater Noida, Digamber Singh Rawat's journey stands as proof that Uttarakhand's next generation of world-beaters can come from anywhere – even the most remote corners of the Himalayas.
