Kathmandu — Nepal’s mixed martial arts fighter Rabindra Dhant will face Japan’s Ryo Tajima in the bantamweight final of Road to UFC Season 5. With the tournament title and a UFC contract at stake, the contest represents a major milestone in Dhant’s career.
Dhant secured his place in the final by defeating New Zealand’s Kasib Murdoch by split decision in Shanghai, China, on August 28, 2026. After three rounds, two judges scored the contest 29–28 in Dhant’s favour, while the third awarded the same score to Murdoch.
Earlier, in the opening round in Macau on May 28, Dhant defeated Kimbert Alintozon by technical knockout at four minutes and 37 seconds of the second round. He secured the victory after controlling his opponent on the ground and delivering a series of strikes. UFC identified Dhant as the first Nepali fighter to compete in Road to UFC.
Tajima, meanwhile, advanced to the final with a unanimous decision victory over India’s Chungreng Koren. The judges scored the contest 30–27, 29–28 and 29–28. According to UFC’s fight report, Tajima established control through accurate, higher-volume striking after finding his range and timing.
According to MMA records website Sherdog, Dhant holds a professional record of 11 wins and one loss. Eight of his victories have come by knockout or technical knockout, one by submission and two by decision, highlighting his ability to finish fights before the final bell.
The final promises an intriguing contest between Dhant’s striking power and ground control and Tajima’s distance management and precision. For Dhant, the bout offers an opportunity both to advance his career and to strengthen Nepal’s presence on the international MMA stage.
The date and venue of the final could not be confirmed through the official sources reviewed at the time of writing.
