Rabindra Dhant, a 27-year-old fighter from Nepal, is set to make history on May 28 when he steps into the Galaxy Arena in Macau. He will become the first Nepali ever to compete in a Road to UFC tournament, standing just two wins away from securing a UFC contract. After years of effort, Dhant has finally earned this opportunity, which offers top MMA prospects from across the Asia-Pacific region a direct path to the UFC. In the quarterfinals, he will face Kimbert Alintozon of the Philippines.
A Calm Response to a Historic Moment
When asked about his selection for Road to UFC Season 5, Dhant's response was unexpectedly measured. Through his coach and interpreter Diwiz Piya Lama, he expressed indifference, noting that this was not the first year they had tried. As a team, they had been pushing for this opportunity for two or three years. When it finally happened, it felt like a step in the right direction, but he emphasized there is still a long way to go. He views fighting as a job, one he must continue doing diligently in the gym.
Despite being on the cusp of history, Dhant feels no pressure from the fight itself. Lama joked that the questions from the media are putting more pressure on him than the actual bout. No Nepali has ever signed a UFC contract, and no Nepali fighter has competed at this level of the sport's global infrastructure. Dhant is in unprecedented territory for his country, yet he remains unfazed.
The Making of Nepal's Top MMA Prospect
Dhant's journey to the doorstep of the UFC reveals much about his mindset. Hailing from Bajhang, a remote village in far-western Nepal with no visibility for MMA, he faced a tough and long path. He moved to India at a young age, working manual labor and an office job that involved serving tea and cleaning. MMA was never part of the plan, but he quietly pursued karate training during odd hours, without family support or institutional structure.
Despite these challenges, his results were impressive. He went 15 fights unbeaten across Indian regional amateur circuits and won the Indian National Amateur MMA Championship back-to-back in 2019 and 2020. This achievement should have qualified him for the World Amateur Championships, but Nepal's MMA infrastructure at the time was not equipped to send him to an international competition. He had qualified but simply could not go.
Dhant described this as a salty phase. He had put in the work, won two tournaments back to back, but it counted for nothing on the international stage. Then came a lucrative offer to assume Indian citizenship, which would have allowed him to compete internationally on a more resourced platform. He turned it down, choosing to keep his Nepali passport. Lama remarked that it was fortunate he did not take that offer, as people would have criticized him harshly given the current circumstances.
Coach Diwiz Piya Lama: The Guiding Light
Lama, who has been Dhant's voice throughout this interaction, has also been his guiding light. A jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai practitioner based in Kathmandu, Lama saw Dhant fight and decided to invest in him personally. He funded a training camp at Fairtex Gym in Thailand, covering the costs out of his own pocket. This investment proved worthwhile.
In September 2023, Dhant made his ONE Championship debut in Bangkok, defeating Russia's Torepchi Dongak by TKO in the third round. He became the first Nepali fighter to win a bout in ONE Championship. Then, in August 2025, at Matrix Fight Night 17 in Greater Noida, he stopped unbeaten Indian bantamweight champion Chungreng Koren in the third round to become the first Nepali to win a major international MMA title.
When asked about the reception that followed, including meeting the Mayor of Kathmandu, receiving a cash reward, and recognition, Dhant emphasized that the win was more important than anything else. He noted that if he had lost, there would have been no President, no Mayor, no Minister. At the end of the day, it is the win and the task at hand that matter, not the side quests.
Preparing for the Quarterfinal Bout
Dhant's original opponent, Australia's Matty Iann, withdrew due to injury. Filipino fighter Kimbert Alintozon, who holds a 7-3 record as a bantamweight with six finishes, stepped in on short notice. Dhant's preparation required no dramatic overhaul. He did not train so specifically for Matty that an entire system needed to change. He did his due diligence and kept doing what he was doing, with no drastic changes.
Despite the accolades, Dhant remains grounded. He views fighting as a job. A win would move him to the Road to UFC semifinals, and two wins would deliver a UFC contract, the first in Nepal's history. When asked what winning in Macau on May 28 means to him, he described it as a stepping stone towards what he is destined for.
Road to UFC (Day 1) - Round of 16 will be broadcast live and exclusive on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD on May 28, 2026, at 3:30 PM IST. Stay updated with the upcoming IPL match between RCB vs GT and the latest IPL news on Times of India. Follow the IPL schedule and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
