Arjan Bhullar

Arjan Singh Bhullar (born May 13, 1986) is a Canadian mixed martial artist and former freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. He currently competes in the heavyweight division of ONE Championship. He has also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As a freestyle wrestler, Bhullar has represented Canada at the 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 World Championships, at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, at the 2007 Pan American Games and at the 2012 Summer Olympics. In folkstyle, Bhullar is a 2-time NAIA Champion and 1-time freestyle CIS Champion from Canada.

Arjan Bhullar
BornArjan Singh Bhullar
(1986-05-13) May 13, 1986
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1]
Weight241[1]
DivisionHeavyweight
Reach76 in (193 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofRichmond, British Columbia, Canada
TeamAmerican Kickboxing Academy
WrestlingOlympic Freestyle wrestling[2]
NAIA Wrestling[3]
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total11
Wins10
By knockout3
By decision7
Losses1
By submission1
Amateur record
Total1
Wins1
Other information
UniversitySimon Fraser University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Men's Freestyle Wrestling
Representing  Canada
Commonwealth Games
2010 Delhi120 kg
Pan American Games
2007 Rio De Janeiro120 kg

Wrestling career

Early life and Folkstyle

Bhullar was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. He started wrestling at a young age.[4] 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[5] 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.[6][7] At the 2009 CIS Championships, Bhullar became the first wrestler to ever win the NAIA and CIS titles in the same year.[8]

Bhullar won a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.[9] Arjan represented Canada at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.[10] Giving back to wrestling, Arjan is one of the founding coaches of the University of the Fraser Valley varsity wrestling program. The UFV Cascades compete in the CIS.[11]

Freestyle career

For 5 years, Bhullar was a member of the Canadian National Team and was also the National Champion since 2008 to 2012 at 120 kilograms.[12] In 2006, Bhullar placed third at the World University Championships.[13] 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.[14] In 2012 he became the first Canadian wrestler with South Asian ethnicity to represent the National Team at the Summer Olympics. He ended up placing 13th.[15]

Coaching

Bhullar was one of the founding coaches of the UFV Cascades wrestling team at University of the Fraser Valley.[16] He is also a member of his family's training center; Bhullar Wrestling Club.[17]

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.[18] 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, it was announced that Bhullar had signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship becoming the first fighter of Indo-Canadian descent to sign with the company.[19]

Bhullar made his promotional debut at UFC 215 on September 9, 2017, against Luis Henrique.[20] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[21]

Bhullar's next fight was against Adam Wieczorek on April 14, 2018 at UFC on Fox 29.[22] After controlling the first round with his wrestling, Bhullar would eventually get caught with an omoplata early in the second round, officially losing the fight via submission at 1:59 of round 2.[23]

For his third fight with the promotion, Bhullar faced Marcelo Golm on October 27, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 138.[24] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[25]

Bhullar next faced Juan Adams on May 4, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 151.[26] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[27] The fight marked the last fight of his prevailing contract with the UFC.[28]

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.[29][30] However, Cerilli pulled out of the bout due to staph infection and the fight was cancelled.[31] The fight eventually took place at ONE Championship: Century on October 13, 2019 with Bhullar winning by unanimous decision.

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.[32]

Personal life

Bhullar professes in Sikhism.[33]

Through his MMA career, Bhullar has developed a friendship with pro wrestler and former WWE champion Jinder Mahal.[34]

Championships and achievements

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
  • Battlefield Fight League
    • BFL Heavyweight Championship (one time)

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
11 matches 10 wins 1 loss
By knockout 3 0
By submission 0 1
By decision 7 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 10–1 Mauro Cerilli Decision (unanimous) ONE Championship: 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

[35]

References
  1. "Arjan Singh Bhullar MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  2. "2012 Summer Olympics - Athletes". Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  3. "2009 NAIA National Wrestling Championship" (PDF). Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  4. motivate-admin. "Arjan Bhullar - Wrestling". www.motivatecanada.ca. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  5. "Lindenwood University (MO) Wins 2007 NAIA Wrestling National Championship" (PDF).
  6. "Notre Dame wins first NAIA national title in wrestling". InterMat. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  7. Committee, Canadian Olympic. "ARJAN BHULLAR". www.vancouversun.com. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  8. Bryant, Jason (June 7, 2009). "Bhullar first wrestler to win both NAIA and CIS Championships". The Open Mat. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  9. "Jumpers lift Canada's medal count on Day 7". CBC Sports. October 10, 2010.
  10. "Arjan Bhullar Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  11. UFV, 2013, Anthony Lepki, Marcom. "Arjan Bhullar | UFV Cascades". Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  12. UFV, 2013, Anthony Lepki, Marcom. "Arjan Bhullar | UFV Cascades". Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  13. "2006 WUC Wrestling Results" (PDF). Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  14. "Top 5 North American Collegiate Wrestlers in ONE Championship | ONE Championship - Features". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. March 18, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  15. "Arjan Bhullar". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. October 25, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  16. UFV, 2013, Anthony Lepki, Marcom. "Arjan Bhullar | UFV Cascades". Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  17. Booth, Mark. "Bhullar Wrestling producing national champions". Richmond News. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  18. "Olympian Arjan Bhullar makes his MMA debut on August 23rd against undefeated heavyweight Josh Morgan -". battlefieldfl.com. July 23, 2014.
  19. "Richmond's Arjan Bhullar ready to rock the UFC as its first Indian fighter". vancouversun.com. May 28, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  20. Staff (June 8, 2017). "Luis Henrique vs. Olympian Arjan Bhullar booked for UFC 216 in Edmonton". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  21. "UFC 215 results: Arjan Bhullar starts quick, survives late Luis Henrique charge". MMAjunkie. September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  22. Staff (January 9, 2018). "Arjan Bhullar announces UFC heavyweight bout vs. Adam Wieczorek". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  23. "UFC on FOX 29 results: Adam Wieczorek struggles early, then taps Arjan Bhullar with rare omoplata". MMAjunkie. April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  24. Staff (July 31, 2018). "Arjan Bhullar says he's fighting Marcelo Golm at UFC Fight Night 138". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  25. "Arjan Bhullar Defeats Marcelo Golm (UFC Moncton Fight Highlights) | MMAWeekly.com". www.mmaweekly.com. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  26. Jesse Holland (February 20, 2019). "UFC Ottawa official for May 4 on ESPN+". mmamania.com. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  27. Shillan, Keith (May 4, 2019). "UFC Ottawa Results: Arjan Bhullar Edges Out Juan Adams". Cageside Press. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  28. Mike Bohn (May 5, 2019). "Arjan Bhullar expects new contract after UFC on ESPN+ 9 win, plans on 'neutering' Andrei Arlovski". mmajunkie.com.
  29. "Arjun Bhullar signs with ONE Championship". July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  30. Tudor Leonte (July 5, 2019). "UFC Veteran Arjan Bhullar to Clash with Mauro Cerilli at One: Dawn of Heroes". sherdog.com.
  31. Martin, Damon (August 2, 2019). "Arjan Bhullar's ONE Championship debut scrapped hours ahead of the event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  32. "Brandon Vera to defend heavyweight title against Arjan Bhullar at ONE: 'Code of Honor'". Asian MMA. February 1, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  33. "Sikh UFC fighter Arjan Bhullar will wear a turban at this weekend's UFC event". bbc.co.uk. April 13, 2018.
  34. Lynch, James; Sapp, Sean Ross (April 4, 2018). "Exclusive: UFC's Arjan Bhullar Talks Friendship With Jinder Mahal, Possible Move To WWE, Upcoming Fight | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  35. Sherdog.com. "Arjan Singh Bhullar MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
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