Historic Win! Rabindra Dhant Advances to Road to UFC Semifinals With Stunning TKO.
Nepali MMA fighter Rabindra Dhant delivered the biggest win of his career on Thursday night, defeating Filipino contender Kimbert Alintozon via second-round Technical Knockout (TKO) at Road to UFC Season 5 in Macau, China.
Competing inside the iconic Galaxy Arena, Dhant became the first-ever Nepali fighter to win a bout in the prestigious Road to UFC tournament, securing his place in the bantamweight semifinals and moving one step closer to earning a UFC contract.
The highly anticipated matchup took place during the opening round of the UFC’s Asia-Pacific talent tournament, which features top MMA prospects from across the region competing in a win-and-advance format.
Originally, Dhant was scheduled to face Australia’s Matty Iann. However, after Iann withdrew due to a knee injury, 27-year-old Filipino fighter Kimbert “The Hunter” Alintozon stepped in as a late replacement just weeks before the event.
Despite the sudden opponent change, Dhant showed composure under pressure on the biggest stage of his career.
The opening round proved challenging for the Nepali star. Alintozon entered the fight as a dangerous underdog and immediately found success with his fast striking combinations and movement. His sharp stand-up exchanges created early problems for Dhant, forcing the Nepali fighter to carefully adjust his approach.
However, momentum dramatically shifted once Dhant closed the distance.
Midway through the second round, Dhant connected with a clean uppercut before initiating a perfectly timed takedown that sent Alintozon to the canvas. From there, the Nepali bantamweight displayed dominant grappling control, smoothly transitioning into a full mount position.
With the Filipino fighter trapped underneath, Dhant unleashed a relentless ground-and-pound attack, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 4 minutes and 37 seconds of Round 2.
The victory improved Dhant’s professional MMA record to 10-1 and extended his growing reputation as one of Nepal’s most promising combat sports athletes.
Popularly known among fans as “Bajhang Ko Bagh” (The Tiger of Bajhang), Dhant has rapidly emerged as a major figure in Nepali MMA over the past few years. His aggressive fighting style, resilience, and ability to finish fights have earned him strong support from the Nepali combat sports community.
Road to UFC Season 5 features elite prospects from across Asia-Pacific competing in four divisions, with tournament winners earning direct UFC contracts. Dhant’s historic semifinal qualification has already sparked massive excitement among Nepali fans on social media, with many calling it a landmark moment for Nepalese MMA.
The atmosphere inside Galaxy Arena became electric after the stoppage, as Dhant celebrated an emotional victory that not only advanced his UFC dream but also placed Nepal firmly on the international MMA map.
With the semifinals now awaiting him, all eyes will be on Rabindra Dhant as he continues his journey toward becoming Nepal’s first UFC-signed fighter.
