--- title: "Behind the Scenes: The Real Indian MMA Community and Coaching" description: "See the real side of the Indian MMA ecosystem. From fight camp realities to technical community insights, get a direct look at the sport beyond the highlights." canonical: https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/behind-the-scenes-community last_updated: 2025-09-25 --- # Behind the Scenes of the Indian MMA Ecosystem Tribe Verified · UFC Commentator & Indian MMA Analyst By [Pushkaraj Shirke](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit) · Online mentorship and travels to athlete's gyms across India · ₹3,000 per session (estimate) Part of [MMA Athlete Coaching & Mentorship](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/gallery) The fight night is just the tip of the iceberg. This is the real, unpolished ecosystem of coaches, athletes, and the grind that actually builds a warrior. ## Photos and videos - ![Back in the game full throttle. All my gear fits into my new Vader Pro gym bag. A robust bag is essential for a combat athlete.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/87ba2e21-05f4-416c-bdd7-210ea9cbd80b) - ![Combat skills and strength training are a dynamite combination. Great to run into my first BJJ coach, Jitendra Khare, one of the OGs of Indian MMA.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/0f387b27-cfde-498e-9362-7b7bf66bd2f5) - ![At the IHFF expo with fellow coaches and friends from the MMA community.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ab0a1501-c14e-49f1-9d12-f9c3238637d0) - ![The team at the IHFF expo. These events are a great place to connect with the wider fitness and combat sports community.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/aad83823-f695-438b-97fd-105977f93a77) - ![At a live UFC screening event at UFC Gym Bandra. Building an informed MMA community in India is the goal.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/17daef5b-8c95-4e9c-b1d2-eb91ad6cc903) - ![Having some fun on the mats after the UFC screening event. It's all about the community.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2f65bc94-0bfa-4d10-9802-5f3d94fb8f97) - ![A group photo with the enthusiastic MMA fans who attended the live screening.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/93f45064-3012-473d-a6d6-ec271761d015) - ![With a fellow MMA enthusiast at the UFC Gym event. The community is growing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6f4955f1-c93d-459d-900a-4e91971608a7) - ![Another group shot from the UFC screening. It takes a tribe to build a sport.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/16883e6c-6ee6-4df1-8118-bb3675ef951f) - ![Pointing to the poster for my live analysis event at UFC Gym. It's great to see the community come together.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e64bf2d6-d7c4-4d1f-b31e-452e2982b313) - ![Rolling with the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu India squad at Ultimate Fitness MMA, prepping for ADCC 2024.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1b70377c-cb2a-4131-9e20-d55a71af22d0) - ![A happy birthday post for my friend and coach, Ashwin Hoon of Warriors Cove MMA. He's been a massive influence on how I see the game.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/17a4fe73-3681-49e1-bd6c-b09426bd766f) - ![Behind the scenes at MFN. A look at the cage before the action begins. It takes a huge team to make a fight night happen.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/dbe5b51f-aca0-4d1e-90f6-9b3e60aa755b) - ![A fighter listening to his corner between rounds. The bond between a fighter and his coach is critical.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b3e9f0c0-94d2-4348-a15f-430576de94a9) - ![A coach giving instructions from outside the cage. This is the unseen part of the fight game.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/09d4dc48-47a1-4392-92aa-a608c867f195) - ![The referee, the third man in the cage, is responsible for the fighters' safety. A crucial and often thankless job.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c16ceb49-fe65-4890-a0ea-33e53e2f4e1b) - ![A female fighter getting ready backstage. The focus and preparation before the walkout are intense.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6bac1e37-df31-4238-8b30-206877ff38c8) - ![The cornerman's huddle. Strategy is adjusted in these precious seconds between rounds.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f31b9727-3e95-4c28-a549-5ae92d1a81b3) - ![The cutman applying vaseline. An essential role to prevent and manage cuts during a fight.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6dd9878d-d0b1-4abe-8e87-7ca6150643e4) - ![A champion surrounded by his team after a win. Victory is a collective effort.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e270362c-1de5-4325-a827-24ebf2b7ba86) - ![The commentary and production team, watching intently from the side. Another part of the machine that brings the event to life.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7fbaf6eb-7a34-4daf-8246-61b5757ae634) - ![We spend our weekends killing each other on the mats for fun. Weekend open mat rolls at Ultimate Fitness MMA.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/45cd27b1-8496-45c9-9abc-eb136a1a62d1) - [Video: How to build a fighter from the ground up. My philosophy is to start with gymnastics, then grappling, and finally striking to ensure long-term development and safety.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/44eca1ca-3e04-4a33-adc6-c92bfaffa95a) - ![Back at the mothership, Warriors Cove MMA, with Coach Ashwin Hoon. Catching up on the fight game and India's future in the UFC.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/b1a1ecbd-9669-4ffe-95d2-9ce4f49bcbe1) - ![For me, meeting the coach is the highlight. Had an amazing chat with the legendary John Wood of Syndicate MMA.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2860a0d1-26e5-4bb2-a6c5-d939d3cbd191) - ![It's always a pleasure when friends become colleagues. With UFC fighter Anshul Jubli at the Sony Sports Network HQ.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c129d9c5-7fcc-409b-b5d4-83332ce99591) ## About Behind the Scenes & Community People see the finish in the cage, but I see the three months of tape study, the weight cut depletion, and the corner instructions that actually won the fight. This gallery is not about the highlights. It is about the hours in the dark, the physios, the community meets at places like UFC Gym, and the real-world infrastructure that actually builds a fighter. When you look at MMA in India, it is easy to get distracted by the shiny, social media side of things. But real progression happens in the quiet moments. It is in the technical breakdowns at the gym, the long sessions of rolling with the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu squad, and the candid, unfiltered discussions at community events like the IHFF expo. My work as a UFC commentator for Sony Sports Network and as a coach forces me to look at this sport differently. I don't just watch for the knockouts. I document the process because that is where the lessons are. Whether I am shooting at MFN events to capture the faces of the staff, officials, and cutmen who make the show run, or hosting a screening in Bandra to analyze technical setups, my goal is the same: to strip away the entertainment-only perspective and build an informed, serious community. This cluster gives you a look at that side of the game. It is about the people who show up, the coaches like Ashwin Hoon at Warrior's Cove who are actually crafting talent, and the reality of life on the mats. If you are looking for the 'influencer' version of fitness, you will not find it here. If you are looking for the real, grit-filled, scientific, and community-driven path to becoming a better fighter, this is where we start. ## About Pushkaraj Shirke I break down the fight game for TV and on the mats. If you are tired of the social media circus and want to understand how this sport actually works, you are in the right place. [See all of Pushkaraj Shirke's services](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit) ## More from MMA Athlete Coaching & Mentorship by Pushkaraj Shirke - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/featured) - [Team Battlefit: Athlete Success & The Grind](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/team-battlefit-athlete-success-the-grind) - [Fight Talk: UFC Analysis & Commentary](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/fight-talk-ufc-analysis-commentary) - [The Science of Strength & Conditioning](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/the-science-of-strength-conditioning) - [No-BS Nutrition & Supplement Reviews](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/no-bs-nutrition-supplement-reviews) - [The Martial Artist's Mindset: Real Talk](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/the-martial-artist-s-mindset-real-talk) - [My Own Grind: Training, Injuries & Competition](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/my-own-grind-training-injuries-competition) ## More services by Pushkaraj Shirke - [Strength & Nutrition Coaching](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/strength-nutrition-coaching) ## Similar work from other experts - [Elite MMA Results and Fight Team Showcase](https://mytribe.in/warriorscovemma/professional-fighter-program/featured) by Warrior's Cove · Professional Fighter Program · 2 training centers across DLF Phase 1 & 3, Gurugram - [Real MMA Fight Results and Champion Journeys](https://mytribe.in/fightercombatclub/combat-conditioning-crossfit/forged-in-the-cage-our-fighters-victories) by Fighter Combat Club · Combat Conditioning & CrossFit · At Fighter Combat Club, Kandivali West - [Competition Highlights: Watch Our Fighters Dominate](https://mytribe.in/crosstrainfightclub/muay-thai-and-boxing/competition-highlights-forging-a-legacy) by Crosstrain Fight Club · Muay Thai & Boxing · 4 training centers across Delhi NCR - [Official MMA Fight Highlights and Championship Results](https://mytribe.in/mmafitzone/competitive-fighter-training-management/in-the-cage-official-fight-highlights) by Sanshinkan MMA FitZone · Competitive Fighter Training & Management · Training at studios in Vikaspuri and Rohini, New Delhi - [The Grind: Our MMA and Combat Fitness Team](https://mytribe.in/the_jamshedkhan/self-defense-training/the-grind-our-team-community) by Jamshed Khan · Self-Defense Training · Training at Delhi Martial Art Academy, Tagore Garden - [Behind the Scenes at Delhi Kabaddi Adda](https://mytribe.in/delhikabaddiaddaofficial/athletic-conditioning-for-kabaddi/additional-work-moments) by Surender Singh · Athletic Conditioning for Kabaddi · Conditioning at Delhi Kabaddi Adda, Shadipur & across Delhi NCR ## Book To book Pushkaraj Shirke, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hey%20Pushkaraj%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20behind-the-scenes%20work%20at%20MFN%20and%20wanted%20to%20chat%20about%20my%20training%20approach.%20Are%20you%20taking%20on%20new%20athletes%3F)