Zeba “Fighting Queen” Bano

Zeba Bano may be known as “Fighting Queen” inside the Circle, but the moniker also applies outside of it.

The 24-year-old Lucknow native has battled through numerous obstacles as a result of her community’s negative attitudes toward women competing in combat sports. Despite the criticism, she persisted and has now become an admired name in the Indian MMA scene.

Bano started her martial arts journey with wushu, where she won two national gold medals. She then made the transition to kickboxing, where she won four additional national gold medals and a flyweight title under K-1 rules. The Indian would also learn boxing and taekwondo, but she ultimately made the transition to MMA in 2014. 

Finding sponsors and the right guidance proved to be difficult, especially in India where the sport was just developing. She also faced other societal challenges and didn’t receive any emotional support from her relatives, who wanted her to settle down and get married.

“Fighting Queen,” however, forged ahead with her dreams of MMA stardom. She competed in a variety of organizations, earning a 6-0 record with an 80 percent finishing rate.

It all paid off in 2022, as she signed with ONE Championship and kicked off her path to World Title gold. Bano’s ongoing journey inspires many to never give up, making her a true inspiration for young fighters.