It’s rare that a Canadian fighter wins a major world title. It’s even more rare that a B.C. fighter wins a major world title. It is near shocking that a former UFV wrestling coach has now won a world title. That’s right — Arjan Bhullar, who helped coach the Cascades wrestling team years ago, has now become a world champion in the heavyweight division of ONE Championship. His journey from the local scene to the UFC was notable for many fans of MMA who saw him as a highly touted prospect from the famous American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). AKA, a team lined with UFC champions, seemed like the perfect fit for a Canadian wrestling phenom transitioning to MMA. Team captain Daniel Cormier, a two weight world champion and former Olympian, seemed like the perfect mentor.
After his departure from the UFC, the signing with One Championship made sense. The promotion, based in Asia, has had tremendous success with viewership and boasts not just MMA, but other sports such as kickboxing, Muay Thai, and grappling matches. Other notable UFC fighters, such as Eddie Alvarez and Vitor Belfort have signed with the company, generating some global appeal that could see the Asian promotion catch on with the North American fans.
Bhullar already was a local figure known for his success, but he quickly is becoming a Lower Mainland legend. Should he continue to fight and transition to other opportunities such as pro wrestling, his outreach could garner massive support from both Canada and India.
Image: ONE UFC
