<h4 class=
Latest News

Young woman cricketer, 19, dies by suicide after selection heartbreak in Puducherry trials: ReportA 19-year-old cricketer died by suicide after attending selection trials for the Puducherry T20 women's cricket team. She wasn't named on the final list. Updated on: May 02

Punjab Police is learnt to have booked Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who recently defected to the BJP, sources said on Saturday (May 2, 2026)
Politics

Punjab Police is learnt to have booked Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who recently defected to the BJP, sources said on Saturday (May 2, 2026). Two FIRs have been lodged against Mr. Pathak under non-bailable sections, they said. No further details about the FIRs have been disclosed yet

Seems like ‘The Special One’ is firm on staying put. Benfica boss Jose Mourinho has shut down speculation linking him with a return to Real Madrid
Sports

Seems like ‘The Special One’ is firm on staying put. Benfica boss Jose Mourinho has shut down speculation linking him with a return to Real Madrid, insisting he has had “no contact" with the Spanish giants. Reports had suggested that club president Florentino Perez views Mourinho as a leading

The wellness tourism industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years. India’s wellness offerings too have developed beyond fitness studios
Latest News

The wellness tourism industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years. India’s wellness offerings too have developed beyond fitness studios, luxury retreats and self-care programmes. Now, we are seeing a growth of spiritual travel as a new trend

There’s been plenty of noise around Formula 1 potentially returning to India. Timelines like 2027 have been floated, though they feel optimistic at best
Latest News

There’s been plenty of noise around Formula 1 potentially returning to India. Timelines like 2027 have been floated, though they feel optimistic at best. Still, the conversation refuses to die. Jenson Button is firmly in favour of seeing F1 back in India

Fresh from his win over Aziz Khaydarov in May, jiu-jitsu specialist Mansher is eager to make his mark in UFC New Delhi: Mixed martial arts can be unforgiving. Discipline, belief and hunger are some words thrown around in the sport. But for Mansher Khera, those reminders are inked into his skin. Literally.

Posted By: Ramesh Sharma Posted On: Aug 31, 2025Share Article
Fresh from his win over Aziz Khaydarov in May, jiu-jitsu specialist Mansher is eager to make his mark in UFC New Delhi: Mixed martial arts can be unforgiving. Discipline, belief and hunger are some words thrown around in the sport. But for Mansher Khera, those reminders are inked into his skin. Literally.

New Delhi: Mixed martial arts can be unforgiving. Discipline, belief and hunger are some words thrown around in the sport. But for Mansher Khera, those reminders are inked into his skin. Literally.

Etched across his ripped torso is the face of Bhagat Singh, the Indian revolutionary who went on a 116-day hunger strike and eventually died for his beliefs when he was only 23.

Khera got the tattoo over a decade ago, long before he entered the octagon. “That was my first tattoo,” he told HT, “Honestly, for me, it was his mindset towards the cause. He was willing to die for it. That kind of commitment… that's what inspires me every single day.”

“I feel like every morning when I wake up and I look at that tattoo, it just keeps me disciplined, it keeps me sharp, it keeps me grounded.”

It's that spirit that carried Khera to his Road to UFC in Shanghai in May to a unanimous decision win over Aziz Khaydarov. His opportunity came at 33, an age some might consider too late to start their UFC dreams but the New Jersey-based fighter isn't too fussed about that.

“I think about (age) all the time, if I'm being honest. But this is my passion,” he said. “I don't have anything else in my life… I'm not married, I don't have kids. I might be old, but I don't have anything else and I'm training like an 18-year-old. I know my skills will speak for themselves.”

Born to Indian immigrants in America, Khera's story is driven by resilience. His parents, Sukhdev Singh Khera and Abhilash Khera, arrived in America with “zero dollars to their name,” building a life from scratch. “I draw a lot of inspiration from them… their life was way harder than mine. So when I'm training and I'm tired, I think of that.”

Although his parents were back in the US, Khera grew up in India, attending a strict boarding school where discipline was carved into routine. Waking up at 7 am, six-day weeks, and a culture of toughness.

“That environment hardened my mind,” he recalled. “So now when I'm in the gym and I don't want to push through, I still do it. Because I've been through worse.”

When he moved back to New York as a teen, the transition jolted him a little, as it would for a person of colour. “I was somewhat of an outcast… people picked on me, and I got into a lot of fights.” However, martial arts allowed him to feel a sense of belonging, and soon, the gym became his sanctuary. The mat doesn't care about colour, after all.

“On the mats, it's simple. No one cares about your race or background. They care if you show up and work. That's how you earn respect.”

Now, Khera splits his training between CULTR Fight Club in Jersey City, where his coach Rich Ebenhan has shaped his game and Unity BJJ in New York City, a hub for world-class jiu-jitsu players. Khera was also the first grappler that was awarded the black belt by the legendary Marcelo Garcia – arguably the best pound for pound submission grappler.

“I really took my time,” Khera, who started BJJ in 2009, said. “First, I focussed on Jiu-Jitsu. Once I got good, I moved to kickboxing around 2017-18. Then I mixed it all up around 2021. Now I'm ready for the big stage.”

The big stage is, of course, UFC.

“There are UFC champions older than me. Look at (Alexander) Volkanovski, look at Islam (Makachev). I know I can achieve that. I have nothing holding me down. It's attainable. No distractions. This is it.”

He already has his eye on Australia's Quilan Salkild, the fighter who last defeated Indian UFC fighter Anshul Jubli. “I'd love to fight him. I want that win on my record,” he said.

But beyond the wins and belts is a desire to build something more lasting. “I want my legacy to be honest. For it to reflect that I never quit. I showed heart, grit. And I stayed true to myself. I want people coming up in the game to look at me and say, ‘He didn't sell out. He did it his way.'”

Khera may not have the flashiest style or the most roaring trash talk. But he has an unyielding discipline, a fighter's spirit, the all-round skills and Bhagat Singh' commitment as a reminder. And it might just be enough to take him where he believes he belongs.

Sony Sports Network is the official broadcaster of UFC in India.

Comment on Post

Leave a comment

If you have a News Orbit 360 user account, your address will be used to display your profile picture.


The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the final redemption price for the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2018–19 Series I, which was issued on May 4, 2018
Business
SGB 2018–19 series I redemption due on 4 May

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the final redemption price for the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2018–19 Series I, which was issued on May 4, 2018. The bond is set to mature on Monday, May 4, 2026. The redemption price for the SGB maturing on May 4, 2026, has been set at Rs 14

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Entertainment
94-year-old Singeetham Srinivasa Rao shocks internet with Sing Geetham teaser

94-year-old Singeetham Srinivasa Rao shocks internet with Sing Geetham teaser; fans say ‘better than Gen Z’13 years after his last film, 94-year-old filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao is returning to cinema with Sing Geetham. Know all about it. May 2, 2026

1 hours ago

The noise was getting louder around the Los Angeles Lakers. Blow a 3-0 lead? Against a depleted Houston Rockets side missing Kevin Durant? It felt unthinkable
Sports
LeBron Closes The Deal

The noise was getting louder around the Los Angeles Lakers. Blow a 3-0 lead? Against a depleted Houston Rockets side missing Kevin Durant? It felt unthinkable, until it didn’t. And then LeBron James stepped in and reminded everyone how these stories usually end

1 hours ago

<strong>“</strong>You have to embrace getting older. Life is precious, and when you've lost a lot of people, you realize each day is a gift
Latest News
Quote of the Day by Meryl Streep

“You have to embrace getting older. Life is precious, and when you've lost a lot of people, you realize each day is a gift.” — Meryl Streep LiveMint's quote of the day by Meryl Streep carries a profound weight that feels uniquely necessary today.“You have to embrace getting older

1 hours ago

<strong>Kolkata:</strong> On recently, in late February, India’s forex reserves reached an all-time high of $728.49 billion
Business
India’s forex reserves decline $4

Kolkata: On recently, in late February, India’s forex reserves reached an all-time high of $728.49 billion. According to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday, India’s foreign exchange reserves declined by $4.82 billion to $698.49 billion in the week ending April 24

1 hours ago

<strong>This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology’s impact outside the West.</strong> The pandemic’s
Education
Edtech funding collapses after pandemic high

This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology’s impact outside the West. The pandemic’s biggest bet on online learning has gone bust. Global edtech investment peaked at $16.7 billion in 2021, fueled by lockdowns that kept millions of children out of classrooms

1 hours ago

Germany faces a potential 15 billion euro output loss due to US President Donald Trump's planned tariff increase on European cars and trucks
World
Trump auto tariff hike could cost Germany nearly $18 billion in output

Germany faces a potential 15 billion euro output loss due to US President Donald Trump's planned tariff increase on European cars and trucks. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy warns of substantial economic impact. This move highlights Germany's automotive sector's vulnerability to US trade

1 hours ago

“This haveli is at least a hundred years old, so are the frescos in your room,” the bellman tells me proudly as he opens the low-hung wooden door that
Life Style
Exploring Shekhawati

“This haveli is at least a hundred years old, so are the frescos in your room,” the bellman tells me proudly as he opens the low-hung wooden door that requires you to bow to enter. After five hours on the road from Delhi, I am eager to rest before heading out to explore Churu

1 hours ago

Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s film Ek Din was theatrically released on May 1. The romantic drama clashed with Riteish Deshmukh’s historical drama Raja
Latest News
Ek Din Box Office Collection Day 1

Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s film Ek Din was theatrically released on May 1. The romantic drama clashed with Riteish Deshmukh’s historical drama Raja Shivaji at the box office. Ek Din Box Office Collection: Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s romantic drama opened to mixed reviews upon its

1 hours ago

ISRO held technical discussions with Russia's Roscosmos in Moscow for semi-cryogenic engines, crucial for India's heavy-lift launch vehicles
Science
ISRO, Roscosmos discuss delivery of semi-cryogenic engines in Moscow

ISRO held technical discussions with Russia's Roscosmos in Moscow for semi-cryogenic engines, crucial for India's heavy-lift launch vehicles. A draft contract is under approval, potentially accelerating ISRO's indigenous engine development. This collaboration aligns with ISRO's broader

1 hours ago

The West Bengal Police has imposed prohibitory orders for 60 days, starting Sunday, in parts of Kolkata’s central business district, PTI reported on Saturday
World
Prohibitory orders imposed in parts of Kolkata for 60 days

The West Bengal Police has imposed prohibitory orders for 60 days, starting Sunday, in parts of Kolkata’s central business district, PTI reported on Saturday. Citing an official order from Friday, the news agency reported that the action was taken after the police received inputs about possible

1 hours ago

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has reconstituted four key parliamentary committees for the 2026-27 financial year. Notable reappointments include Faggan Singh
Politics
Lok Sabha reconstitutes three Financial

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has reconstituted four key parliamentary committees for the 2026-27 financial year. Notable reappointments include Faggan Singh Kulaste as Chairperson of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

1 hours ago

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday (May 1, 2026) he was “not satisfied” with Iran's latest proposal in negotiations to end war between the
World
Trump 'not satisfied' with Iran's latest proposal to end war with U

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday (May 1, 2026) he was “not satisfied” with Iran's latest proposal in negotiations to end war between the countries, rejecting the plan almost as soon as it was delivered. “They want to make a deal, I'm not satisfied with it, so we'll see what happen

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Tanur boat accident

Tanur boat accident: Justice V K Mohanan Commission submits final report with safety recommendationsTanur boat accident: Justice V K Mohanan Commission submits final report with safety recommendations Published on: May 02, 2026 2:26 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Kochi

1 hours ago

People living in a housing society in Noida were left upset after facing a water shortage for two straight days. A resident shared his experience online and
Latest News
Noida Man Complains About Water Shortage In Society

People living in a housing society in Noida were left upset after facing a water shortage for two straight days. A resident shared his experience online and questioned why basic facilities were missing despite residents paying maintenance charges regularly

1 hours ago

Actor-turned-politician Vijay enjoys a massive fan following and there is no doubt about it. He is currently on a spiritual tour, seeking blessings for his
Entertainment
Vijay Fans Gather At Velankanni Church

Actor-turned-politician Vijay enjoys a massive fan following and there is no doubt about it. He is currently on a spiritual tour, seeking blessings for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ahead of the Tamil Nadu elections results, scheduled to be announced on May 4

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
World
Trump is an idiot

'Trump is an idiot': Californians fume over soaring petrol pricesThe war launched by Donald Trump is unpopular all over the US, with polls showing a clear majority disapprove of a conflict whose aims they think are unclear. Updated on: May 02

1 hours ago

The Trinamool Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission. Allegations involve the unauthorized sorting of postal ballot covers at an EVM
Politics
Alleging unauthorised sorting of postal ballot covers

The Trinamool Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission. Allegations involve the unauthorized sorting of postal ballot covers at an EVM strongroom in Kolkata. TMC workers claim trunks of ballots were moved to an unmonitored room. Similar incidents occurred in North 24 Parganas

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Internet reacts as emergency alert system test sends loud beep to mobile users

‘What just happened?’: Internet reacts as emergency alert system test sends loud beep to mobile usersInternet reacted after mobile users received a loud government test alert on their phones on Saturday morning. Published on: May 02, 2026 1:06 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link

1 hours ago

Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced the launch of India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling
Home
India's First Barrier-Free Toll Plaza Goes Live On Mumbai-Delhi National Highway Near Surat

Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced the launch of India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat-Bharuch section of the Delhi-Mumbai NH-48 in Gujarat

1 hours ago

This year’s JEE Main results saw 12 students score a perfect 100 percentile, including Rajasthan’s Arnav Gautam. Remarkably, Arnav achieved this in his
Education
Meet Arnav Gautam

This year’s JEE Main results saw 12 students score a perfect 100 percentile, including Rajasthan’s Arnav Gautam. Remarkably, Arnav achieved this in his very first attempt, scoring 295 out of 300 in the January session. Despite his parents coming from a humanities background

1 hours ago

Spirit Airlines, an impish upstart that shook the industry with its irreverent ads and deep discount fares, announced on Saturday (May 2
World
Spirit Airlines says it’s going out of business after 34 years and is ending operations

Spirit Airlines, an impish upstart that shook the industry with its irreverent ads and deep discount fares, announced on Saturday (May 2, 2026) that it has gone out of business after 34 years. The airlines said it had begun orderly wind-down of operations. It added all flights have been cancelled

1 hours ago

Yash will soon be seen essaying the role of Ravan in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, scheduled to hit theatres on Diwali this year. While everyone is excited about
Entertainment
Yash Calls Ramayana

Yash will soon be seen essaying the role of Ravan in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, scheduled to hit theatres on Diwali this year. While everyone is excited about the upcoming movie, the pan-India star has now opened up about why he agreed to be a part of the project

1 hours ago

Offered by the University of Gloucestershire, the U.K.  university  /  universities and colleges  /  students  /  careers  /  higher education  /  The Hindu
Education
May 2, 2026

Offered by the University of Gloucestershire, the U.K. university / universities and colleges / students / careers / higher education / The Hindu Education PlusSports Global Excellence ScholarshipOffered by the University of Gloucestershire, the U.K.Published - May 02

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Five members of a Tamil family among nine killed in Bargi Dam boat tragedy

Five members of a Tamil family among nine killed in Bargi Dam boat tragedyA senior government official in Tiruppur said arrangements were being made to transport the bodies back to Tamil Nadu. Published on: May 02, 2026 2:33 PM IST By S Vijay Karthik Share via Copy link Five of the nine people

1 hours ago

Chettinad is undergoing a revival. Its mansions are paying the price. As travellers, architects and designers discover the region’s unique aesthetic via
Life Style
Chettinad’s revival fuels both restoration and dismantling of historic mansions

Chettinad is undergoing a revival. Its mansions are paying the price. As travellers, architects and designers discover the region’s unique aesthetic via festivals and curated holidays, luxury homes and hotels across the country are increasingly being outfitted with Burmese teak doors

1 hours ago

Thousands of fans were left disappointed as actor and TVK leader Vijay cancelled his scheduled visit to Velankanni Church on Saturday
Politics
TVK leader Vijay cancels Velankanni trip

Thousands of fans were left disappointed as actor and TVK leader Vijay cancelled his scheduled visit to Velankanni Church on Saturday. The actor had planned to visit the famous Christian pilgrimage centre early Saturday morning. Sources from TVK stated that the cancellation was due to personal

1 hours ago


Sing Up