Bharat Khandare to face China’s Wuliji Buren in second UFC fight
Bharat Khandare, who hails from a wrestling background, will take on China’s Wuliji Buren in UFC 227 in August 2018.
Bharat Khandare, who became the first Indian fighter to take part in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) last year, will look to register his first win at the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organisation when he takes on Wuliji Buren of China in UFC 227 on August 5.
Khandare’s opponent - Wuliji ‘Beast Master’ Buren (10-5 record in MMA) – has also not won a single match in UFC and he will also look to bounce back from his loss against Rolando Dy.
Khandare faced Song Yadong from China in his first UFC fight in Shanghai and was defeated via submission in the first round. Late in the opening round, Yadong dropped Khandare with a clean shot to the jaw and then caught him in a guillotine choke to force the tap at 4:16.
Khandare, who hails from a wrestling background, started kickboxing training around five years ago and it did not take him long to make his mark in the domestic MMA circuit.
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In 2012, he joined the Super Fight League (SFL) and with a first-round submission win over Narender Grewal, he became the SFL Featherweight (61 to 66 kg) champion. The 28-year-old took part in two more fights and enjoys an unbeaten 5-0 record in the Super Fight League.
“I started as a wrestler. After some ugly politics in the sport, I didn’t see my career evolve and switched to MMA. It’s been a great decision so far. I’m currently in the best phase of my life, with a UFC contract under my belt,” Khandare had earlier said.
UFC 227 will be headlined by a bantamweight title fight between reigning champion TJ Dillshaw and top contender Cody Garbrandt who lost him title in UFC 217.