Nepali fighter Sushmita Thapa Magar celebrates with her team after a Muay Thai victory. She was ranked World No. 18 in the WBC Muaythai women’s super flyweight division in October 2026.
Sushmita Thapa Magar: Nepal’s MMA Trailblazer Ranked No. 18 in WBC Muay Thai
Nepali fighter Sushmita Thapa Magar is making her mark in international combat sports. After a historic victory in her professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut, she has added another achievement to her career, securing 18th place in the WBC Muaythai women’s super flyweight world rankings for October 2026.
The fighter from Nepal’s Gandaki Province has built her career across Taekwondo, Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA. Her journey from national competitions to international fighting events is bringing growing recognition to Nepali women in combat sports.
According to the World Boxing Council Muaythai’s official October 2026 rankings, Sushmita is listed among the world’s ranked contenders in the women’s super flyweight division, which has a weight limit of 115 pounds (approximately 52.16 kg).
The ranking is another significant milestone for the athlete, who has already established an impressive record in Muay Thai while pursuing a professional career in MMA.
From Taekwondo Champion to International Fighter
Sushmita began her sporting journey in Taekwondo, where she developed the skills that would later help her compete in other combat sports.
In February 2024, she won the women’s 45–50 kg category at the eighth ITF Taekwon-Do Professional National Championship in Ramechhap. The victory earned her a championship trophy and a cash prize of NPR 50,000.
Her performances continued to attract recognition. She was named Best Female Player at the 23rd National ITF Taekwon-Do Championship in Rolpa in May 2024.
She received the same recognition at the 24th National ITF Taekwon-Do Championship, held in Kathmandu in February and March 2025.
In August 2025, she added another honour when Nepal’s International Taekwon-Do Federation named her Best Female Player of the Year.
These achievements established her as a promising national-level martial artist before she expanded her career into professional striking competitions.
Making Her Mark in Muay Thai
While Taekwondo provided her early competitive foundation, Sushmita gradually moved into Muay Thai, the Thai combat sport known for its powerful punches, kicks, knees and elbows.
She emerged as a successful competitor in Nepal’s Muay Thai circuit, collecting titles and victories against domestic and international opponents.
In May 2025, she defeated India’s Geeta Narjinari in the women’s 51 kg category at Budhanilkantha Fight Night in Kathmandu. The result added another title to her growing collection.
Her coach, Khagendra Kshetri, has been associated with her development and international competitions.
By August 2026, Sushmita had recorded ‘seven victories without a defeat in professional Muay Thai’, alongside a professional kickboxing record of two wins and two losses.
Her subsequent appearance in the WBC Muaythai world rankings marked a new level of international recognition.
Although she is ranked among world contenders, the ranking should not be confused with holding a WBC world championship title.
Sushmita Thapa Magar Makes History with Winning MMA Debut in India
Historic Professional MMA Debut in India
One of the biggest moments of Sushmita’s career came on August 15, 2026, when she faced India’s Shalu Sharma at Ronin Fighting Championship 3 in Bengaluru.
Competing in the women’s strawweight division, she defeated Sharma by unanimous decision after three five-minute rounds.
The victory marked a successful beginning to her documented professional MMA career. Gandaki University celebrated the achievement, describing her as the ‘first Nepali woman to win a professional MMA fight’.
Sushmita’s experience in stand-up fighting played an important role in the contest. Despite facing an opponent with grappling skills, she displayed effective ground control and attacking techniques.
During the second round, she kept Sharma on the mat for extended periods and landed several elbow strikes. She maintained her advantage through the final round to secure the judges’ decision.
The result gave her a professional MMA record of 1–0.
The victory also followed another successful appearance in India. On May 9, 2026, she defeated Indian fighter Aarti Khatri by unanimous decision in a professional kickboxing bout at Ronin Fighting Championship 2.
Her move into MMA has opened another competitive path, allowing her to combine striking experience with grappling and ground-fighting techniques.
Balancing Education and Professional Fighting
Beyond her achievements in the ring, Sushmita has also pursued higher education in sports management.
She was studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management at Gandaki University in Pokhara and was in her eighth semester when the university recognised her MMA victory in August 2026.
Her academic background reflects her wider involvement in sports, combining competitive experience with formal education in the industry.
The university praised her achievement as an important moment for Nepali women’s MMA.
A New Generation of Nepali Women in Combat Sports
Sushmita’s career reflects the opportunities emerging for Nepali athletes beyond traditional sporting disciplines.
Her achievements across Taekwondo, Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA demonstrate her ability to compete under different rules and against opponents from other countries.
Her October 2026 WBC Muaythai ranking places her among the international contenders in her weight division, while her MMA victory has already earned her recognition at home.
For Sushmita Thapa Magar, the journey from national Taekwondo competitions to professional international fights represents years of competitive progress.
With a winning professional MMA debut and a place in the world Muay Thai rankings, she is building a career that could encourage more Nepali women to explore professional combat sports.
