On May 28, 2026, the Galaxy Arena in Macau was buzzing with excitement as a young fighter from a small village in Bajhang, Nepal, made his debut in the Road to UFC. The crowd eagerly awaited Rabindra Dhant as he prepared to square off against Kimbert Alintozon.
Amidst a schedule packed with ten fights that day, the atmosphere in the arena intensified when Dhant stepped into the cage. Many devoted Nepali fans had turned up to cheer him on, creating a scene filled with energy and support.
Dhant delivered an impressive performance, dominating the match and securing a technical knockout. This victory brought him one step closer to his dream of making it into the UFC. Suddenly, the 27-year-old became a celebrated figure back home, earning the nickname “Tiger of Bajhang.”
However, his path to fame in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) was not easy. Growing up in a village without any MMA culture or facilities, Dhant’s journey began far from the ring. In search of a better life, he moved to India, where he worked as a laborer in Pithoragarh and Delhi, never initially planning to pursue a career in MMA. Instead, he discovered karate, laying the groundwork for his combat sports future.
Despite facing limited resources and a lack of attention, Dhant’s results spoke for themselves. He remained unbeaten in 15 amateur fights across various regional circuits in India and clinched the title at the Indian national amateur MMA championships in 2019 and 2020. His skills eventually earned him opportunities to compete in respected organizations like ONE Championship and Brave CF.
His standout moment arrived when he defeated India’s Chungreng Koren at Matrix Fight Night 17, earning the bantamweight title. Now, with an impressive record of 10 wins and 1 loss, Dhant is just one fight away from achieving his goal. He is set to face New Zealand’s Kasib Murdoch on August 28, and a victory will earn him a contract with the UFC, making him the first fighter from Nepal to join the promotion.
Despite his nickname suggesting a fierce persona, Dhant’s nature remains humble and hardworking. Reflecting on his past, he spoke about how his experiences in Pithoragarh and Delhi helped him discover more about himself. MMA became a transformative force in his life, enabling him to build self-confidence and reshape his identity.
“I didn’t know myself well before MMA,” Dhant explained. “It taught me about my own abilities and showed me how hard I could work to reach my goals.”
Growing up, he lacked role models in sports to look up to. Though he didn’t have the opportunity to idolize any fighters, once he discovered MMA and began watching UFC athletes, he found his own path and motivation. “I couldn’t focus on being a fan back then, but as I worked and noticed MMA, I realized that I wanted to pursue that,” he said.
MMA has given Dhant more than just a career; it has provided him with a sense of purpose and the belief that he could break barriers not only for himself but for Nepal as well.
As he prepares for his important fight this Friday, Dhant acknowledges the support of his fellow countrymen, especially during tough times as they recover from recent floods. However, he views the attention as a source of motivation rather than pressure. “It brings me joy and encourages me to work even harder. I don’t feel pressured at all,” he said.
While his opponent Murdoch has made some bold statements leading up to their bout, Dhant isn’t interested in engaging in verbal exchanges. For him, the focus remains on what happens in the octagon. He plans to rely on his instincts, honed through years of hard training, during the fight.
“Fighting is about trusting your instincts,” he remarked. “And I believe my instincts will guide me to victory.”
Before wrapping up, Dhant expressed a heartfelt message to young MMA athletes in Nepal, promising to keep fighting passionately until he can no longer enter the cage. “Thank you for all your love and support. I aim to keep that fire burning and continue giving my all as long as I can,” he said.
Fans can catch the Road to UFC Season 5 semifinals, featuring Koren versus Ryo Tajima, on August 28, 2026, at 2:30 PM IST, live on various Sony Sports channels and platforms.
