UFC: Loma Lookboonmee’s remarkable rise from badlands of Thailand to shining lights of Singapore
- From the dusty fields surrounding her family farm in Buriram, Loma Lookboonmee has fought her way to the biggest stage
- Muay Thai hero is set to add another chapter to her storied martial arts career this weekend as first Thai fighter in the UFC
History will be made when Loma Lookboonmee steps into the Octagon for her debut on the UFC Fight night 162 card at Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday.
The 23-year-old (3-1) will become the first Thai fighter to grace the sport’s biggest stage when she goes into battle against Russian Aleksandra “Stitch” Albu (3-1), and Loma says signing with the UFC has already changed her life forever.
So the moment won’t be lost on Loma – born Konklak Suphisara – but what the world needs to know is that simply getting to Saturday’s fight has been a monumental achievement in itself.
“I have come so far already,” says Loma. “I feel tremendous joy every time I get to fight in the ring. I have loved to fight since the day I was born.”
Loma’s journey started in the dusty fields that surround her family farm in Buriram, in the Isan region of Thailand. Isan is among Thailand’s poorest provinces, and a place where alcoholism and drug use are rampant.