Vikas Singh Ruhil Set to be the first Indian MMA Fighter in Bellator MMA

18 February 2024

Vikas Ruhil, the trailblazing Indian MMA fighter who made history as the first Indian to compete in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), is poised to etch his name in the annals of MMA history once again. Ruhil is slated to face off against Ireland's Nathan Kelly (9-2) in a Featherweight bout on the preliminary fight card of Bellator Champions Series Belfast, scheduled to take place in Belfast on March 22, 2024.

Vikas, who holds a record of 12-7-0 to his name, is represented by All In Sports Management and trains out of Team Relentless in Mumbai, Maharashtra under Coach Jitendra Khare.

He made history back in March 2023 when he became the first Indian MMA fighter to compete in PFL. Vikas went up against James Gonzalez at PFL Challenger Series 2023 and suffered a first-round TKO loss. Interestingly, Vikas had a last-minute opponent change as well which made matters complicated.

After almost a year’s gap, the Indian is set to make history again as he will be the first-ever Indian MMA fighter to compete in Bellator MMA.

Nathan Kelly, on the other hand, is coming into the fight on the back of an impressive winning streak. The SBG Ireland fighter is currently 9-2 and has been a mainstay in PFL.

The eagerly anticipated event, set to unfold at The SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, promises to deliver a riveting display of martial arts prowess. The Bellator Champions Series Belfast will showcase a lineup of exhilarating matchups, featuring some of the most formidable contenders in the sport.

Among the headline clashes announced for the event is the battle between number one contenders in the Middleweight division, pitting England's dynamic southpaw striker Fabian Edwards (12-3) against Canada's Aaron Jeffery (14-4). In the Featherweight category, Ireland's submission specialist James Gallagher (12-2) will square off against Canada's jiu-jitsu standout Jeremy Kennedy (19-3), promising an electrifying showdown of skill and endurance.

Rounding out the main card will be a Lightweight bout featuring England's Tim Wilde (17-4-1) against the undefeated PFL Challengers Series veteran Manoel Sousa (10-0). The event will also feature a battle for the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship, with former title challenger Corey Anderson (17-6, 1 NC) facing Northern Ireland's Karl Moore (12-2).

In the co-main event, Belfast's own Leah McCourt (8-3) will lock horns with Dublin's Sinead Kavanagh (9-6) in a highly anticipated Women's Featherweight rematch.

What are your thoughts on the event? Let us know in the comments below.

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