MMA fighter Kiru Singh Sahota aims to become the first British Sikh to secure a contract in the finals of The Road to UFC this November.
The Manchester Top Team athlete is determined to represent his heritage on the global stage as he competes in Macau against Dong Hoon Choi for a coveted spot in the UFC.
Sahota solidified his place in the finals the third season of The Road to UFC, a tournament in which top Asian MMA talents compete to win UFC contracts, after beating Ruel Panales in Las Vegas this August by unanimous decision.
Originally from Huddersfield, Sahota began his journey in martial arts at Lions MMA, the biggest Sikh MMA club in the UK, which was established in 2010 to encourage Sikh youth to learn a form of self-defence – which is a crucial part of Sikh history.
Inspired by former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, Sahota said he had ‘no intention’ of becoming an athlete before attending MMA classes at his local Gurdwara (Sikh temple), but is now set to represent his heritage in the final of the Road to UFC.
He said: “It’s just everything to me, I want to represent my team – Manchester Top Team, and also the Punjabi fighting spirit.
“I came up from a Gurdwara and I’m still representing it to this day.”
The flyweight’s Sikh faith has been a fundamental part of his identity, instilling values that influence his character and aspirations.
He said: “I feel like it’s just shaped me to become the man that I am.
“Your religion is there as a guide, to keep you as like a good, honest person.”
As one of few professional Punjabi MMA fighters in the UK, Sahota pointed out the underrepresentation of Punjabis in the sport. Despite a rich history in wrestling, which has been practiced for centuries, he and his brother Pav are among the only Punjabi athletes competing at this level.
He said: “We’ve got the wrestling from back home; we’ve got lots of wrestlers in every pind (village).
“Even in the Birmingham area, all the wrestling clubs are run by Punjabis, but I would like to see more of them crossing over into MMA because I feel like they would be very successful.”
Despite being a significant cultural group in Punjab, Sahota expressed his desire to see Sikhs represent a minority within the broader population in both India and the UK. He added that whilst Sikhs make up around ‘1% of the population’ we ‘don’t see that 1% in sports’.
He said: “I’d like to see more young Punjabi’s just coming through the ranks, really.
“And you’ve got people around that will help you as much as possible, even myself, I’m only one message away.”
The 29-year-old also acknowledged the evolving perception of MMA, recalling a time when it was often referred to as ‘cage fighting’, and banned in countries such as New York and France – illustrating how far the sport has come and the increased opportunities now available for aspiring athletes.
He said: “The sport has come along, and people’s attitude towards it has come along as well.
“In my area, the Kirklees, they banned MMA shows, and it’s mainstream now, so it’s come a long way.”
Opportunities for children pursuing careers in MMA and various sports are now growing, and Sahota emphasised the ‘different avenues’ available beyond just academics, which he did not have access to growing up.
Recognising this positive shift, as Sahota looks ahead to the finals of the Road to UFC, he aims to inspire the next generation of young Punjabis to embrace their potential in sports – whilst also striving to secure a UFC contract and showcase his culture on an international platform.
Featured image: Kiru Singh Sahota photographed for the Road to UFC
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