Nepali MMA Fighter Rabindra Dhant Advances to Road to UFC Semifinals

Nepali MMA fighter Rabindra Dhant has reached the semifinal stage of the Road to UFC Season 5, UFC’s selection tournament. Kathmandu, June 14 — On Thursday, at the Galaxy Arena in Macau, Dhant defeated Philippines’ Kimbert Alintozon in the second round of the quarterfinal match, securing his place in the semifinals. Thousands of Nepali supporters were present to cheer on Dhant, popularly known as the ‘Tiger of Bajhang.’

Rabindra became the first Nepali fighter to claim a victory in the Road to UFC. In the semifinals, he will face the winner of the bout between Japan’s Yonusuke Minami and New Zealand’s Cassib Murdock. Initially, he was scheduled to fight against Mattie Ian, but after Mattie sustained an injury, Kimbert Alintozon of the Philippines replaced him. Competing in the bantamweight division, Dhant’s victory would grant him entry onto the main UFC stage. As a prominent figure in Nepali MMA, he notably claimed the title by knocking out India’s Chungren Kaveran at Matrix Fight Night 17 held last year in Greater Noida, India.