KATHMANDU, May 28: Nepali MMA fighter Rabindra Dhant has advanced to the semifinals of the prestigious Road to UFC Season 5 currently underway in Macau, China.
Dhant secured his place in the final four after defeating Philippines fighter Kimbert Alintozon in the bantamweight quarterfinal on Thursday at Galaxy Arena.
A large number of Nepali supporters were present at the venue to cheer for Dhant, creating an energetic atmosphere with Nepali flags and chants throughout the bout.
Rabindra Dhant in action against Philippines’ Kimbert in road t...
Following the historic victory, Dhant thanked all his supporters and well-wishers for their encouragement.
In the semifinal, Dhant will face the winner between Japan’s Yonusuke Minami and New Zealand’s Kasib Murdoch. If he goes on to win the bantamweight division, Dhant will earn a historic opportunity to secure a place on the main UFC roster.
Dhant was originally scheduled to fight Matty Ian, but the matchup changed after Ian withdrew due to injury, with Alintozon stepping in as a replacement opponent.
Despite the last-minute change, Dhant delivered a composed and tactical performance to secure the win.
The Nepali fighter has emerged as one of the country’s most successful MMA athletes in recent years. He gained international recognition after winning the bantamweight title at Matrix Fight Night 17 in Greater Noida, India, last year with a knockout victory over Indian fighter Chungren Koren.
With the latest win, Dhant has moved one step closer to becoming the first Nepali fighter to break into the UFC main stage.
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