ONE Championship: Arjan Bhullar posts pictures from surgery; Reinier de Ridder calls out Anatoly Malykhin for title fight

Heavyweight champ was slated to face Malykhin at ONE 161 on September 29, but withdrew from the match-up with injury last week

Two-division champ De Ridder tells martial arts promotion ‘I know a guy who would step in’ for Singapore main event

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ONE heavyweight champ Arjan Bhullar poses for pictures after undergoing surgery on an injury.

Published: 3:11pm, 30 Aug 2022Updated: 3:12pm, 30 Aug 2022

Arjan Bhullar has shed some light on the injury that forced him out of next month’s ONE Championship 161 main event against Anatoly Malykhin, posting an update after undergoing surgery.

ONE’s reigning heavyweight king was set to meet the interim champ on September 29 in Singapore. But the match has been scrapped, the Post revealed on Saturday, further extending what has already been a significant break from competition for Bhullar.

The 36-year-old Indian-Canadian s has not specified the nature of his injury nor has he provided a time frame for his return to action. But he seems to be taking the setback in his stride.

“The last two weeks have been a roller coaster,” Bhullar wrote on Instagram. “I’ve gone through a lifetime of sports without any broken bones or surgery, until now. We spoke to three different doctors and each one gave the same opinion. The surgery took place a couple of weeks ago and went very well.

“I’ve always leaned on my faith through life and the same mindset is getting me through this. Everything happens for a reason. Thank you for the prayers and support I’ll be back in the cage very soon.”

Bhullar (11-1) has not fought since May 2021, when he defeated Brandon Vera by second-round TKO to capture ONE’s heavyweight title.