Arjan Bhullar

Arjan Bhullar
Born Arjan Singh Bhullar
May 13, 1986
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 241 lb (109 kg; 17 st)
Division Heavyweight
Reach 76 in (193 cm)
Style Wrestling
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Team Checkmat Vancouver (formerly)
American Kickboxing Academy (2014–present)
WKX Vancouver
Wrestling Olympic Freestyle Wrestling
NAIA Wrestling
Years active 2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 13
Wins 11
By knockout 4
By decision 7
Losses 2
By knockout 1
By submission 1
Amateur record
Total 1
Wins 1
Other information
University Simon Fraser University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing Canada
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Delhi 120 kg
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Rio De Janeiro 120 kg
World University Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Ulanbataar 120 kg
FILA Grand Prix of Germany
Gold medal – first place 2012 Cologne 120 kg
Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament
Gold medal – first place 2012 Kissimmee 120 kg
Representing the Simon Fraser Clan
CIS National Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Calgary 130 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing Simon Fraser
NAIA Wrestling Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Sioux City 285 lb
Gold medal – first place 2008 Sioux City 285 lb
Gold medal – first place 2009 Oklahoma City 285 lb

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

Bhullar is also a former freestyle wrestler and American folkstyle wrestler. In freestyle, he was a CIS national champion in 2009 and represented Canada at the 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 World Championships, the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the 2007 Pan American Games and at 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. 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 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. At the 2009 CIS Championships, Bhullar became the first wrestler to ever win the NAIA and CIS titles in the same year.

Freestyle career

For five years, Bhullar was a member of the Canadian National Team and was also the National Champion since 2008 to 2012 at 120 kilograms. In 2006, Bhullar placed third at the World University Championships. 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. In 2012 he became the first Canadian wrestler with South Asian ethnicity to represent the National Freestyle Wrestling Team at the Summer Olympics. He ended up placing 13th.

Coaching

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

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. 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 has defended the title twice.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In May 2017, Bhullar signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship becoming the first fighter of Indo-Canadian descent to sign with the company.

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

Bhullar's next fight was scheduled against Josh Barnett on November 4, 2017, at UFC 217 Bhullar was considered the favorite going into this bout based on his wrestling and power. The bout with Barnett never came about as Josh was granted leave from the promotion. For his third fight with the promotion, Bhullar faced Marcelo Golm on October 27, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 138. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

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

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. However, Cerilli pulled out of the bout due to staph infection and the fight was cancelled. The fight eventually took place at ONE Championship: Century on October 13, 2019, with Bhullar winning by unanimous decision.

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, 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. 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.

After a contract dispute, Bhullar eventually signed a new contract with the organization and was scheduled to face interim champion Anatoly Malykhin for the ONE Heavyweight World Championship unification bout at ONE 161 on September 29, 2022. 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. The bout was rescheduled for March 25, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 8. 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. The bout was scheduled on July 15, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 12. However, for unknown reasons, the bout was moved to ONE Friday Fights 22 on June 22. Bhullar lost the bout and the title via TKO in the third round.

Post championship

Bhullar is scheduled to face Amir Aliakbari on March 1, 2024, at ONE 164.

Personal life

Bhullar is of Indian Punjabi Sikh descent.

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

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts

Freestyle wrestling

  • United World Wrestling
  • Wrestling Canada Lutte
    • 2012 Canadian Olympic Team Member
    • 2012 Canadian Senior National Champion
    • 2011 Canadian Senior World Team Member
    • 2011 Canadian Senior National Champion
    • 2010 Canadian Senior World Team Member
    • 2010 Canadian Senior National Champion
    • 2009 Canadian Senior Wrestler of the Year
    • 2009 Canadian Senior World Team Member
    • 2009 Canadian Senior National Champion
    • 2008 Canadian Senior National Champion
    • 2007 Canadian Senior World Team Member
    • 2006 Canadian Junior National Champion
    • 2006 Canadian Junior World Team Member
    • 2005 Canadian Junior National Champion
    • 2005 Canadian Junior World Team Member

Collegiate wrestling

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
13 matches 11 wins 2 losses
By knockout 4 1
By submission 0 1
By decision 7 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 11–2 Anatoly Malykhin TKO (punches) ONE Friday Fights 22 June 23, 2023 3 2:42 Bangkok, Thailand Lost the ONE Heavyweight Championship.
Win 11–1 Brandon Vera TKO (punches) ONE: Dangal April 28, 2021 2 4:27 Kallang, Singapore Won the ONE Heavyweight Championship.
Win 10–1 Mauro Cerilli Decision (unanimous) ONE: Century Part 2 October 13, 2019 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 9–1 Juan Adams Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy May 4, 2019 3 5:00 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Win 8–1 Marcelo Golm Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith October 27, 2018 3 5:00 Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Loss 7–1 Adam Wieczorek Submission (omoplata) UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje April 14, 2018 2 1:59 Glendale, Arizona, United States
Win 7–0 Luis Henrique Decision (unanimous) UFC 215 September 9, 2017 3 5:00 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Win 6–0 Joe Yager Decision (unanimous) Battlefield Fight League 48 April 29, 2017 3 5:00 Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Win 5–0 Chris Catala TKO (punches) Hard Knocks 51 October 14, 2016 1 4:29 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Win 4–0 Ryan Pokryfky Decision (unanimous) Battlefield Fight League 45 September 17, 2016 5 5:00 Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada Defended the BFL Heavyweight Championship.
Win 3–0 Blake Nash TKO (doctor stoppage) Battlefield Fight League 39 October 17, 2015 2 5:00 Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada Won the vacant BFL Heavyweight Championship.
Win 2–0 Jon-Taine Hall Decision (unanimous) Hard Knocks 44 June 28, 2015 3 5:00 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Win 1–0 Adam Santos TKO (punches) Battlefield Fight League 33 November 7, 2014 3 2:22 Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

See also