As the news of his recent MMA victory spread, we knew we had to reach out to Bhutan’s first mixed martial arts fighter, Tsheltrim Rabgyel. His journey is one of resilience, redemption, and an unwavering commitment to his dreams.

Born in Pemagatshel, Bhutan, Tsheltrim moved to Ontario, Canada, at the age of 14. Even as a child, he was drawn to combat sports, practicing taekwondo from the age of eight until his early teens. But life took a different turn. As a teenager, he found himself caught up with the wrong crowd, leading to struggles with addiction and gang involvement. His dreams of being a fighter seemed to fade into the background as he battled personal demons.

At 25, standing at a crossroads, Tsheltrim made a life-altering decision—he was going to take back control. He sought help at a detox center, cut ties with negative influences, and reignited his passion for martial arts. This time, he wasn’t just dabbling in it; he was all in. His childhood experience in taekwondo, his natural fighting instincts, and his determination to turn his life around fueled his progress in the sport.

With the guidance of dedicated coaches like Sabir Bagautdinov, Tsheltrim honed his skills in kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and wrestling. He trained relentlessly, and his efforts soon paid off. He competed in four wushu sanda (Chinese kickboxing) matches, securing a record of 4-1. He fought over 20 jiu-jitsu matches and made his amateur MMA debut in November 2024, winning against Phil Tran at Thicc Boy Fight Night 5 in Mississauga, Ontario.