Arjan Bhullar

Last updated

Arjan Bhullar
BornArjan Singh Bhullar
(1986-05-13) May 13, 1986 (age 37)
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight245 lb (111 kg; 18 st)
Division Heavyweight
Reach76 in (193 cm)
Style Wrestling
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
TeamCheckmat Vancouver (formerly) [1]
American Kickboxing Academy (2014–present) [1] [2]
WKX Vancouver [2]
Wrestling Olympic Freestyle Wrestling [3]
NAIA Wrestling [4]
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total14
Wins11
By knockout4
By decision7
Losses3
By knockout1
By submission1
By disqualification1
Amateur record
Total1
Wins1
Other information
University Simon Fraser University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Delhi 120 kg
Pan American Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2007 Rio De Janeiro 120 kg
World University Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2006 Ulanbataar 120 kg
FILA Grand Prix of Germany
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2012 Cologne120 kg
Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 Kissimmee 120 kg
Representing the Simon Fraser Clan
CIS National Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2009 Calgary130 kg
Collegiate wrestling
Representing the Simon Fraser Clan
NAIA Wrestling Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2009 Oklahoma City285 lb
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2008 Sioux City285 lb
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2007 Sioux City285 lb

Arjan Singh Bhullar [5] (born May 13, 1986) is a Indo-Canadian mixed martial artist currently competing in the heavyweight division of ONE Championship, where he is the former ONE Heavyweight World Champion. [6] He has also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. [7]

Contents

Bhullar is also a former freestyle wrestler and collegiate wrestler. In freestyle, he was a CIS national champion in 2009 [8] and represented Canada at the 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 World Championships, the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the 2007 Pan American Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics. In folkstyle, Bhullar is a two-time NAIA champion.

Wrestling career

Early life and collegiate wrestling

Bhullar was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. He started wrestling at a young age. [9] As a collegiate wrestler, he competed for the Simon Fraser Clan at Simon Fraser University, a NAIA university at the time. He had a successful career while wrestling at 285 pounds, placing third in 2007 [10] and becoming champion in 2008 and 2009 at the NAIA Wrestling Championships. He was also named Canada's wrestler of the year and NAIA outstanding wrestler in 2009. [11] [12] At the 2009 CIS Championships, Bhullar became the first wrestler to ever win the NAIA and CIS titles in the same year. [13]

Freestyle career

For five years, Bhullar was a member of the Canadian national team and was also the 120 kg national champion from 2008 to 2012. [14] In 2006, Bhullar placed third at the World University Championships. [15] In 2007, he won a bronze medal at the Pan American Games and competed at the World Championships. He competed again at the World Championships in 2009 and 2010, in the latter year he also won the championship at 120 kg of the Commonwealth Games. [16] In 2012, he became the first Canadian wrestler with South Asian ethnicity to represent Canada at the Summer Olympics. He placed 13th. [17]

Coaching

Bhullar was one of the founding coaches of the UFV Cascades wrestling team at University of the Fraser Valley. [14] He is also a member of his family's training center, Bhullar Wrestling Club. [18]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

In August 2014, Bhullar had his first amateur fight as a mixed martial artist. He turned pro in November of that year fighting with the Battlefield Fight League. [19] Over the next few years, Bhullar competed exclusively in his native Canada and remained undefeated with a record of six wins. Arjan won the vacant BFL Heavyweight Title with a victory over Blake Nash on October 17, 2015. He defended the title twice.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Bhullar made his promotional debut at UFC 215 on September 9, 2017, against Luis Henrique. [20] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [21]

Bhullar's next fight was against Adam Wieczorek on April 14, 2018, at UFC on Fox 29. [22] After controlling the first round with his wrestling, Bhullar would get caught with an omoplata early in the second round, officially losing the fight via submission in round 2. [23]

For his third fight with the promotion, Bhullar faced Marcelo Golm on October 27, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 138. [24] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [25]

Bhullar next faced Juan Adams on May 4, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 151. [26] He won the fight by unanimous decision. [27] The fight marked the last fight of his prevailing contract with the UFC. [28]

ONE Championship

On July 3, 2019, it was announced that Bhullar signed a deal with Asia-based MMA promotion ONE Championship, and was expected to make his promotional debut against Mauro Cerilli at ONE Championship: Dawn of Heroes on August 2, 2019. [29] [30] However, Cerilli pulled out of the bout due to staph infection and the fight was cancelled. [31] The fight eventually took place at ONE Championship: Century on October 13, 2019, with Bhullar winning by unanimous decision. [32]

ONE Heavyweight World Champion

On February 1, 2020, it was announced that Bhullar would be challenging Brandon Vera for the ONE Heavyweight World Championship at ONE Championship: Code of Honor on May 29, 2020, [33] but the fight was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bout was rebooked to take place at ONE Championship: Dangal on May 15, 2021. [34] He defeated Vera via second-round technical knockout to win the ONE Heavyweight World Championship, becoming the first fighter of Canadian/Indian descent to win an MMA world title. [35] [36]

After a contract dispute, [37] Bhullar eventually signed a new contract with the organization [38] and was scheduled to face interim champion Anatoly Malykhin for the ONE Heavyweight World Championship unification bout at ONE 161 on September 29, 2022. [39] However, Bhullar withdrew due to an injury in training, It was announced that Bhullar had surgery on the arm two weeks prior and the bout was cancelled. [40] [41] The bout was rescheduled for March 25, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 8. [42] In turn, the bout was removed from the event due to a shift in broadcaster commitments and the bout will be rescheduled again to a later date. [43] The bout was scheduled on July 15, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 12. [44] However, for unknown reasons, the bout was moved to ONE Friday Fights 22 on June 22. [45] Bhullar lost the bout and the title via TKO in the third round. [46]

Post championship

Bhullar faced Amir Aliakbari on March 1, 2024, at ONE 164. [47] He lost the fight via disqualification due to timidity in round three. [48]

Personal life

Bhullar is of Indian Punjabi Sikh descent. [49]

Through his MMA career, Bhullar has developed a friendship with fellow Indo-Canadian and former WWE champion Jinder Mahal. [50]

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts

Freestyle wrestling

Collegiate wrestling

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
14 matches11 wins3 losses
By knockout41
By submission01
By decision70
By disqualification01
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss11–3 Amir Aliakbari DQ (timidity) ONE 166 March 1, 202434:50 Lusail, QatarThe bout was ended by disqualification due to the referee giving Bhullar a red card for inactivity.
Loss11–2 Anatoly Malykhin TKO (punches) ONE Friday Fights 22 June 23, 202332:42 Bangkok, ThailandLost the ONE Heavyweight Championship.
Win11–1 Brandon Vera TKO (punches) ONE: Dangal April 28, 202124:27 Kallang, SingaporeWon the ONE Heavyweight Championship.
Win10–1Mauro CerilliDecision (unanimous) ONE: Century – Part 2 October 13, 201935:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win9–1 Juan Adams Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy May 4, 201935:00 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Win8–1 Marcelo Golm Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith October 27, 201835:00 Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Loss7–1 Adam Wieczorek Submission (omoplata) UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje April 14, 201821:59 Glendale, Arizona, United States
Win7–0 Luis Henrique Decision (unanimous) UFC 215 September 9, 201735:00 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Win6–0Joe YagerDecision (unanimous)Battlefield Fight League 48April 9, 201735:00 Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Win5–0Chris CatalaTKO (punches)Hard Knocks 51October 14, 201614:29 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Win4–0Ryan PokryfkyDecision (unanimous)Battlefield Fight League 45September 17, 201655:00 Coquitlam, British Columbia, CanadaDefended the BFL Heavyweight Championship.
Win3–0Blake NashTKO (doctor stoppage)Battlefield Fight League 39October 17, 201525:00 Coquitlam, British Columbia, CanadaWon the vacant BFL Heavyweight Championship.
Win2–0Jon-Taine HallDecision (unanimous)Hard Knocks 44June 28, 201535:00 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Win1–0Adam SantosTKO (punches)Battlefield Fight League 33November 7, 201432:22 Coquitlam, British Columbia, CanadaHeavyweight debut.

[51]

See also

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