- Nepali fighter Ravindra Dhant defeated Kimbertt Alintozon in the Road to UFC Season 5 quarterfinals, advancing to the semifinals in Macau.
- Dhant made history as the first Nepali fighter to win a match in the Road to UFC tournament.
- Competing in the bantamweight division, the "Tiger of Bajhang" is now one victory away from securing a prestigious UFC contract.
- Dhant will next face either Yonusuke Minami or Kasib Murdoch as he continues his pursuit of a global MMA career.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepali MMA fighter Ravindra Dhant has taken a major step toward the global stage, advancing to the semifinals of Road to UFC Season 5 and making history in the process.
Dhant secured a convincing victory against the Philippines’ Kimbertt Alintozon in the second round of their quarterfinal bout on Thursday at the Galaxy Arena in Macau. With this win, he becomes the first Nepali fighter to win a fight in the Road to UFC tournament.
The arena saw a strong presence of Nepali supporters, who turned out in large numbers to cheer for Dhant. Known to fans as the “Tiger of Bajhang,” he lived up to his nickname with a powerful and composed performance.
Originally, Dhant was set to face Matty Ian in the quarterfinal. However, after Ian was ruled out due to injury, Alintozon stepped in as a replacement opponent.
Competing in the bantamweight division, Dhant is now just one win away from earning a coveted contract with the UFC, the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotion.
In recent years, Dhant has emerged as one of Nepal’s most exciting MMA talents. His rise gained further momentum last year when he claimed the title at Matrix Fight Night 17 in Greater Noida, India, defeating India’s Chungren Koren via knockout.
Looking ahead, Dhant will face the winner of the semifinal bout between Japan’s Yonusuke Minami and New Zealand’s Kasib Murdoch.
With growing support at home and strong performances in the cage, Dhant’s journey is quickly becoming a source of pride and inspiration for Nepali fight fans.
