Rabindra Dhant: Nepal's 'Bajhang ko Baagh' Is One Fight From the UFC
From Bajhang to Shanghai: Nepal's top MMA prospect is one win away from a UFC contract.
Nepal has never had a fighter on the UFC roster. Rabindra Dhant is now one fight away from changing that. The 27-year-old bantamweight, known back home as Bajhang ko Baagh (the Tiger of Bajhang), is the first Nepali to reach a Road to UFC final, Republica reported on Aug 28, 2026.
Who is Rabindra Dhant?
Dhant was born on Nov 30, 1998, in Bajhang, in far-western Nepal. He holds a professional MMA record of 11-1, with eight wins by knockout or TKO, according to his UFC Stats profile and Tapology (both checked Oct 17, 2026). His only loss came by decision against Ismail Khan at ONE Friday Fights 45 in December 2023.
He first broke out in August 2025, when he knocked out India's Chungreng Koren to win the Matrix Fight Night bantamweight title. Onlinekhabar called him the first Nepali MFN champion (Aug 3, 2025). He trains with Lock N Roll MMA in Nepal and Soma Fight Club, under coach Diwiz Piya.
The Road to UFC run
Macau, May 28, 2026. In the Season 5 opening round at Galaxy Arena, Dhant stopped Kimbert Alintozon by TKO at 4:37 of the second round. He took the fight to the mat, moved to mount and finished it with strikes. UFC.com noted he was the first fighter from Nepal to compete on Road to UFC.
Shanghai, Aug 28, 2026. In the semifinal he faced New Zealand's Kasib Murdoch. After 15 close minutes the judges scored it 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 for Dhant, a split decision (UFC.com, Onlinekhabar, Aug 28). The Kathmandu Post described the win as a much-needed reprieve for a country hit by deadly floods that week.
What's next: the final vs Ryo Tajima
Dhant meets Japan's Ryo Tajima in the Road to UFC Season 5 bantamweight final. The winner earns a UFC contract. He is not signed yet, and no date or venue has been announced. UFC.com said on Aug 28 only that the finals will take place "early next year." We'll update this page when the UFC confirms the card.
Why it matters
For Nepalis abroad, this one is personal. A kid from Bajhang is carrying Nepal's name onto the UFC's own Road to UFC stage. Whether you're in Queens, Dallas, London or Doha, final ko din alarm set garnai parcha. Win or lose, the path he's forging makes the next Nepali fighter's road a little shorter.
Sources: UFC.com (May 28 and Aug 28, 2026), Onlinekhabar English (Aug 3, 2025; Aug 28, 2026), Republica (Aug 28, 2026), Kathmandu Post (Aug 29–30, 2026), UFC Stats and Tapology profiles (checked Oct 17, 2026).
Photo credits: Hero and social image: Jeffrey Bottari/Zuffa LLC via UFC.com. The Reel also uses photos credited to Getty Images via Sportstar and the Kathmandu Post, plus a Bajhang backdrop by "Cultural beauty of Bajhang" (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons).