Ritu Phogat has not fought since her loss to Stamp Fairtex in the final of the atomweight Grand Prix. But the Indian is definitely back in training and appears to be just ready to return to competitive action.
Phogat is regularly posting videos of herself training at Evolve MMA in Singapore. The most recent shows her working on sone punching combinations:
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Strength and conditioning
Phogat has been posting training photos and videos nearly every day on Instagram. The 28 year old fought five times in 2021, suffering the first two losses of her career but reaching the final of the atomweight Grand Prix.
She has not fought at all in 2022 and appears to be having an extended break after a very busy year. Phogat has dropped out of the top five at atomweight after losing to Stamp in the Grand Prix final.
Her dream of winning the atomweight title looks distant and she will need to beat a couple of contenders just to work her way back into the rankings. Phogat has clearly been doing some strength and conditioning work ahead of a potential return:
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Rising and falling
The stock of several atomweight fighters has risen and fallen dramatically in recent months. Itsuki Hirata has dropped out of the top five altogether after suffering the first loss of her career at the hands of Jihin Radzuan.
Alyse Anderson got back to winning ways with a come from behind victory over Asha Roka but it wasn’t enough to earn her a spot in the atomweight rankings. Jennifer Olsim claimed the tightest of split decision victories over Julie Mezabarba in a battle between two fighters who were eliminated from the Grand Prix at the semi final stages.
There are plenty of potential opponents out there for Phogat who captioned a recent post with a message that could be seen as a warning by some of her rivals,
“If you are in the way of my goals and dreams I suggest you move,” declared the Indian.
While 2021 definitely won’t be as busy for Phogat as the last calendar year was she will be hoping it can be even more successful. It looks like the 28 year old is ready to return and just waiting for her next fight offer.
