Mumbai: Leveraging the growing popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA) and in an attempt to allow untold stories to reach out to Indian viewers, MX Player’s content arm, MX Studios now brings for its viewers India’s first MMA Reality Series – Kumite 1 Warrior Hunt.

At the launch event of MMA, Indiantelevision.com caught up with Toyam Sports Ltd CMD Mohamedali Budhwani to talk about the show and its concept.

The show is being hosted by MMA enthusiast and Hindi cinema superstar Suniel Shetty. The MX Studios Original, Kumite 1 Warrior Hunt will witness 16 top male and female MMA athletes compete for a title while being trained by renowned MMA coaches - Bharat Khandare and Pawan Maan.

This series is being produced in partnership with Toyam Sports Ltd, Kumite1 Warrior Hunt has roped in SATSport News as the Title Sponsor. The series aims to build a stronger MMA community in India.

Commenting on the launch, MX Player chief operating officer Nikhil Gandhi said, “At MX Studios, we create innovative and engaging branded content to meet the contemporary entertainment needs of our viewers. We have partnered with Toyam Sports to present Kumite1 Warrior Hunt as we wanted MMA fans to find new and unique ways to connect with the sport, reflect the fighter’s competitive spirit and give them an unprecedented view of what it takes to be in this business. After the phenomenal success of Dharavi Bank, we are privileged to have Suniel Shetty as the host of the series. MMA is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and this series is our foray into sports-based content.”

The six-episode series will give viewers a first-hand insight into the hardships faced by these athletes in their MMA journey with stories of survival, passion and courage, thus making the series extremely relatable. This series further showcases the hardships and emotions that MMA fighters deal with while balancing their personal lives and their desire to participate in MMA tournaments.

The show premieres on 12 February 2023.

Edited excerpts:

On the concept of mixed martial arts (MMA). How did this come about? How was the strategy and concept worked on?

MMA is a new concept in India, it has been around but we didn’t have a platform. I started the Kumite one league and I organised a match in 2018 with Mike Tyson as the brand Ambassador, India versus UAE. The problem here was that I could not find any sponsors but I did the event. I at that time came to know that in India there are almost a crore MMA fighters and they don't get a platform because the only sport India then promoted was cricket.

Though MMA has been around there have been no takers for this sport as most platforms feel that it is a blood sport. So as I started my struggle in 2018, I thought, MMA has a very good scope as most fighters come from poor families or small towns. Our Crore fighter and UFC1 UFC, all want to come to India to promote MMA. in 2018, I started this and I spoke to a lot of channels. Finally, MX agreed and we also got a very good sponsor. Then we roped in Suneil Shetty to host the show. It has been a good hard journey. But nowadays MMA is getting good feedback in India and stars like Tiger Shroff is doing a lot of promotions. In two- or three years MMA will be the sport to look for in India.

On Sunil Shetty as the host for the show

Sunil Shetty was always there in my mind, also he's a Bollywood actor. He is passionate about sports and especially MMA. He got trained for MMA internationally and when we were shooting he showed some punches and some kicks to the fighters also and they loved it. Our fighters and I have not trained internationally, but Suneil has. This is what shows and this was on my mind that I will take somebody who has a passion for it. He is somebody who is a celebrity and has the right vision and passion, and this will add strength to the show.

On the scripting and casting of the show

See, we did the audition before COVID and we got very good entries. We auditioned all over India and we were supposed to go to all the states and do the casting. But because of covid, we could not go and it was done. The scripting and the idea were worked on by our director Omkar.

On MX Player the right platform for the show

MX Player is the No 1 OTT platform and has a very good reach in India. Another advantage is that we can have free air. Our fighters, as I told you, they don't have money to buy subscriptions and the show on MX Player free is a big boost to them.

On the interest shown by kids for poor families to excel in this sport

For sure, as I told you I brought Mike Tyson to India. When Mike was here he was invited for lunch or dinner by celebrities but he wanted to go and eat at a poor kids’ house because that was his roots. We have so many people here in India and this show will give a big platform to all those people who deserve it.

We would have Season 2 of the show and the first promo has been liked by all. We are hoping that it would be the number 1 show on MX Player.