Rabindra Dhant stepped off the plane Monday evening to a sea of cheers at Tribhuvan International Airport. Flags flew. People shouted his name. Some just stood, phones out, trying to catch a glimpse of the man who had made Nepal proud.
Just 24 hours earlier, in Greater Noida, India, Dhant had done something no Nepali MMA fighter had done before—he knocked out India’s Chungreng Koren in the third round at MFN 17 and walked away with the bantamweight title. The arena roared. And at home? So did an entire nation.
They’re calling him “The Tiger of Bajhang.” Fitting, really. He fights like he has something to prove.
The Prime Minister took notice too. K.P. Sharma Oli posted online the next day, praising Dhant’s courage and calling the win a proud moment for all Nepalis.
Back in Kathmandu, fans waited at the airport with banners and phones. Some had tears in their eyes. For them, this wasn’t just a win in a cage—it was a moment of national pride.
Dhant didn’t get here the easy way. No training centers. No big sponsors. Just raw drive. He trained where he could, fought when he had the chance, and kept pushing. Now? He’s 9–1 and just ended a five-win streak held by one of India’s toughest fighters.
Sports writers and fans alike say this could be a turning point for MMA in Nepal. Maybe even more.
