Indian MMA

Kaushik Saikumar Set to Become the First Indian MMA Fighter on DWCS

By LockerRoom Team August 1, 2025

Indian MMA will witness a historic moment as Kaushik Saikumar becomes the first fighter from the country to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS). The undefeated Bantamweight prospect is set to face Louis Lee Scott (9-0) of England on August 19, during Season 9, Week 2 of DWCS at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Hailing from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Kaushik has built an impressive 5-0 professional record with wins across respected promotions like CFFC, Shogun Fights, and APFC. He started his MMA journey training at Combat Kinetics in Chennai and now sharpens his skills under former UFC fighter Ryan Hall in the United States.

Kaushik has finished four of his five opponents, showing versatility with knockouts and submissions, and has quickly risen as one of India’s brightest MMA talents. His upcoming opponent, Louis Lee Scott, is a well-rounded and undefeated fighter from the UK, promising a high-stakes bout with UFC contracts on the line.

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With this opportunity, Kaushik aims to follow in the footsteps of top international fighters who launched their UFC careers through DWCS and hopes to carry the Indian flag to the biggest stage in MMA.

Kaushik Saikumar's Professional MMA Record (5-0):

  • Win over Raymond Ramos via Unanimous Decision – CFFC 129 (March 2024)

  • Win over Jack Congdon via TKO (punches) – Shogun Fights 26 (October 2023)

  • Win over Mandeep Bhalerao via TKO – All Star Fight Night 2 (September 2023)

  • Win over John Ramirez via Submission (rear-naked choke) – APFC 10 (July 2023)

  • Win over Varun Sunder via TKO – FRFC 1 (January 2023)

DWCS Season 9, Week 2 Full Fight Card

  • Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
  • Location: UFC Apex, Las Vegas
  • Broadcast: ESPN+

  1. Manuel Exposito (13-2) vs. José Delano (15-3) – Featherweight Main Event

  2. Jon Kunneman (10-0) vs. Cam Rowston (11-3) – Middleweight

  3. Tommy Cuozzi (8-0) vs. Ramiro Jimenez (10-0) – Featherweight

  4. Josh Hokit (5-0) vs. Guilherme Uriel (6-1) – Heavyweight

  5. Louis Lee Scott (9-0) vs. Kaushik Saikumar (5-0) – Bantamweight

What are your picks for the event?