LAS VEGAS (Diya TV) – After an undefeated start to his professional MMA career, Indian prospect Kaushik “The Pride of Chennai” Saikumar lost by TKO to Englishman Louis Lee Scott in the third round on Dana White’s Contender Series. The fight consisted of a lot of ground work in the first two rounds before Lee Scott closed the show with his pressure striking.

Who is Kaushik Saikumar?

As his nickname proclaims, Saikumar hails from Chennai, India and was the first fighter of Indian descent to appear on Dana White’s Contender Series. Following in the footsteps of his parents, he got an engineering degree from Anna University in Guindy. His university in India was within the vicinity of an MMA gym, which sparked more of an interest in the sport for Saikumar. After graduating, Saikumar pursued his MMA dreams full-time. 

Saikumar’s MMA Journey

During his formative years, Saikumar competed in karate, then taekwondo, before moving to judo and boxing. He competed in boxing at the state level and at a national level in taekwondo. However, his career shifted when he moved to the United States to train under UFC veteran Ryan Hall at Fifty50 MMA Academy in Falls Church, Virginia.

He amassed a 5-0 pro MMA record with four finishes (three knockouts, one submission) before suffering his first defeat on the Contender Series. 

How the Fight Played Out

Saikumar, in the style of his mentor Hall, went for a lot of leg locks to try and notch a heel hook submission. In turn, he would put himself on bottom position. But while this is normally a disadvantageous spot to be in, Saikumar would scramble well and make his way back to the feet. 

However, it was on the feet where he met his demise. Lee Scott went to work with combos and kept Saikumar on the back foot before forcing him to shell up. 

It is surely not the last time we will hear of Kaushik Saikumar. More often than not, when prospects keep making waves on the regional scene, they eventually get invited back to Dana White’s Contender Series to get a second chance. In that regard, nine out of 11 fighters who have returned for another opportunity have secured a UFC contract.