Indian UFC Fighter Bharat Kandare released from UFC, plans to focus on his gym

Renjith Ravindran

17 Nov 2021

The first Indian-born UFC Fighter Bharat Kandare has been released from the UFC. Bharat confirmed the same in an exclusive with LockerRoom India and the news was earlier shared by Bharat’s manager Somesh Kamra as well. 

Reacting to the release in an exclusive, Bharat noted that he will be focusing on his own gym, Bharat Kandare MMA Academy, which he has set up in Nashik, Maharashtra. Bharat also noted in an exclusive that he will be looking to help domestic events which will provide a platform for upcoming MMA fighters.

The Bharat Kandare MMA Academy is currently operating at the Balkawde international Sports Center Bhagur, Nashik, Maharashtra, India. (Contact: 7057790465), has been providing training for aspiring MMA athletes for quite some time now.

He will also be seen associating with Pro Crunch Fight Night in Nagpur on December 18 and December 19, 2021, which will be one of the first events that Bharat will be guiding. In an exclusive, Bharat had earlier noted that he would be taking a break from competing to take care of his ailing mother.

“I’m currently alone with my mother and she is not keeping well. I cannot leave her and go to fight. Hence, I will be taking a break from fighting for three or four years. And If I feel that I can get back into the cage after that long break, I might get back,” he had noted in an exclusive statement.

The UFC run of Bharat Kandare

Bharat became the first Indian-born UFC fighter back on November 25, 2017, when he fought Yadong Song at UFC Fight Night 122: Bisping vs. Gastelum.

After making his UFC debut at UFC Shanghai back in November 2017, Bharat had been going through a rough phase in his MMA career. He was suspended by USADA for two years in 2018 for a substance that got into his system as part of the injury medication given to him by a local doctor who was not aware of the banned substance list.

Bharat then became eligible to make his return to the Octagon from November 2020 after completing the two years of suspension.

He was looking to get back into the cage after the gap but financial issues proved to be another major hurdle for him and as we earlier reported, he had even set up a crowdfunding campaign to return to the United States for training.

He had earlier left his small-government job to pursue a career in MMA and is now in his home with his mother who is struggling with diseases. In the long-run Bharat plans to return to competition and is currently in the process of sharpening his skills for the same.

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