27 July 2025 was a milestone for One Punch MMA as it was our first time participating at the Warrior Dream Series Fight Night and our fighters made it unforgettable. Two of our own, Santosh Yadav and Shirish Dete brought home wins making the debut even sweeter. Both have been a part of our family for years, not just as fighters but also as coaches who share their knowledge daily on our mats.

Santosh fought in the flyweight division against a truly tough opponent with an incredible record of 30-6. This was no ordinary fight. Both were champions in their previous divisions – Santosh in bantamweight and his opponent in flyweight. When two reigning champions finally meet, you know it is something special. This bout had been long overdue and the energy around it was electric. The first round was a shocker. For the first time in the Indian amateur scene, Santosh found himself in unfamiliar territory – having his position reversed and his back taken, something he usually does to others. It was a clear sign of how much Indian MMA has grown.

But Santosh is not one to fold. In the next two rounds he brought everything from his fight camp into play – sharp takedowns, strong ground control, relentless ground and pound, solid knees and clean strikes. He dominated both rounds and secured a 29-28 unanimous decision win. Once again he showed why he is a sponsored One Punch MMA fighter and a two-time World Championship representative with every aspect of his training and nutrition taken care of. Shirish stepped back into the cage after a long break due to injury. During his time away from competition he never stopped training. He coached others, helped teammates win their fights and gave selflessly to those around him. That kindness and dedication came back to him in the form of strength and lessons that shaped his comeback.

His fight in the strawweight division started strong. Crisp movement, sharp striking, nsmooth grappling – Shirish looked at home both standing and on the ground. For the first two rounds, he went all out and dominated. In the third round, something went off – maybe only he can explain and his opponent took control. Still, his early lead and skill earned him a 29-28 unanimous decision victory.

Both Santosh and Shirish continue to grow not only as fighters but also as coaches here at One Punch MMA where they find the stability to focus on their craft while helping others rise. Their wins at Warrior Dream Series 13 mark a proud first appearance for One Punch MMA at this event and a sign of many more to come.