Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Prachiti Nagpurkar Makes History as Asian Games MMA Referee
Prachiti Nagpurkar used to work as a chartered accountant.
She also loved mixed martial arts and trained in the sport.
She decided to leave accounting and become an MMA official.
At the Asian Games in Nagoya, she became the first Indian to referee an MMA match there.
She led a men’s semifinal, even though MMA is often seen as a male-dominated sport.
Nagpurkar said she feels confident working with much larger fighters.
She owns an MMA gym in Mumbai and trains female fighters.
She hopes MMA officiating will grow after the sport’s Asian Games debut.
Prachiti Nagpurkar became the first Indian to referee an MMA bout at the Asian Games.
She officiated a men’s semifinal at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center during MMA’s Asian Games debut.
Nagpurkar left her chartered accountancy career to pursue MMA officiating, which she describes as her passion.
She began her officiating journey in 2022 and has worked at Asian qualifiers, championships and the South East Asian Games.
Nagpurkar progressed through national C, B and A qualifications before beginning Asian Federation certification.
- Who
- Prachiti Nagpurkar, an Indian MMA official and former chartered accountant.
- What
- She became the first Indian to referee an MMA bout at the Asian Games.
- When
- At the Asian Games in Nagoya; the article says her officiating journey began in 2022.
- Where
- Nagoya City Inae Sports Center, Nagoya, with additional work at events in Uzbekistan, China and Southeast Asia.
- Why
- She left chartered accountancy to pursue her passion for MMA and officiating.
- Historic achievement
- First Indian to referee an MMA bout at the Asian Games
- Event
- Asian Games MMA competition
- Assignment
- Men’s semifinal
- Venue
- Nagoya City Inae Sports Center
- Previous events
- Asian Games qualifiers, Asian Championships and South East Asian Games
- National qualification
- Progressed through C, B and A levels
- Gym
- Owns an MMA gym in Mumbai