Enter the Octagon: India reaches fever pitch as the Maharashtra ‘Superhuman’ inspired by Bruce Lee makes his UFC debut
The first India-born fighter in UFC, Bharat Khandare is sending shockwaves across his home country ahead of debut in Shanghai
Bharat “Daring” Khandare is on a mission as the first India-born fighter to grace the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
First, he said, he would win his bout against China’s Song Yadong at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Saturday night, and through that victory he would inspire.
“Right now there is only me,” said Khandare. “But soon there will be 100, 150 fighters from India. I want to show them how they can make a mark on the global stage.”
Khandare’s bout is among the 12 lined up for the UFC’s first foray into mainland China. It’s being headlined by the clash between the recently-deposed middleweight champion Michael Bisping (30-8) of Britain and aspiring American contender Kelvin Gastelum (13-3).
But there will be almost if not more attention paid in these parts to the fact China has eight fighters on the card, including rising welterweight star Li “The Leech” Jingliang (13-4).
