Tsheltrim Rabgyel MMA Fighter Opens Up About His Journey

Tsheltrim Rabgyel
MMA Fighter Opens Up About His Journey

Reading Time: 5 Minutes
Grab a cup of tea or your favorite snack, because you’re about to dive into a story that’s as powerful as it is inspiring. In this exclusive online interview with Bhutanese MMA fighter, you’ll experience a journey that goes far beyond the ring. From overcoming personal battles to making history, every word in this article will resonate with those who’ve ever faced adversity and wondered if they could rise above it.

This one-on-one was conducted online by Victor Gurung, Media & Technical Lead Consultant, and has been published with full consent and approval from the interviewee. For any use or republishing of this content, please seek approval from the BOC or ensure proper credit is given to BOC as a courtesy.

To start, could you share a bit about your current life—what you are focusing on at the moment, both professionally and personally? I’d also love to learn more about your family, how they have shaped your journey, and the role they play in your life today.

Beyond fighting, what principles or philosophies guide you as a person? How do you balance your ambitions with your personal growth, and what message do you hope to share with those who look up to you?

Response : At the moment, I’m deeply focused on my career and working towards becoming a professional MMA fighter by next year. My goal is to complete 10-15 amateur fights before making the transition to the professional level. I’m extremely fortunate to have a supportive wife and family. Combat sports, especially MMA, demand 100% dedication, and there are times when both my wife and I are busy juggling training and work. Thankfully, my mother helps take care of our 7-year-old son, who is full of energy and requires a lot of attention. I’m truly grateful for her support.

Growing up, my parents worked tirelessly to take care of us, and despite the mess I found myself in at times, they never gave up on me. Their unwavering support shaped who I am today. Martial arts, for me, is more than just a sport; it brings me peace. There’s a saying—“I find peace in doing one of the most dangerous sports.” It’s true. After a day of training, I make sure to spend quality time with my family. Time management is key, especially when you have a family of your own. I try not to waste a single minute, so I can go home and be with my son. As an aspiring professional fighter, balancing my schedule is crucial: getting 8 hours of sleep, training for 3-4 hours a day (sometimes more), and staying focused. When you’re working, there’s no time to waste on distractions like phone scrolling.

Reflecting on your childhood in Pemagatshel, Bhutan, what are some of your earliest memories that ignited your passion for martial arts?

Response : I’ve always been an active kid. My older brother and I were huge fans of WWF—we’d often pretend to be wrestlers, and we ended up breaking countless beds while reenacting our favorite moves. I also grew up watching Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and other action-packed martial arts films, which really fueled my interest in fighting. I vividly remember the excitement when taekwondo was introduced to Pemagatshel. I was around 8 years old, and after less than six months of training, I fought in my first taekwondo match. However, after just two years, the training stopped due to budget constraints.

At 11, we moved to Thimphu, where taekwondo was quite popular. I was able to continue training there, and after less than two years, we moved back to Pemagatshel again. That’s when my interest in martial arts began to fade a bit.

Moving to Ontario, Canada, at the age of 14 must have been a significant transition. How did this move influence your perspective on life and your approach to martial arts?

Response : I first moved to New Brunswick, Canada, where I lived for eight years. At that time, martial arts wasn’t even on my radar. Before I came to Canada, I was already heading down a destructive path—getting into trouble, sniffing glue, drinking alcohol, and smoking cigarettes. I even tried marijuana for the first time when I was just 12 in Pemagatshel. When I arrived in Canada, it didn’t take long for me to find friends who shared those same bad habits.

After eight years in New Brunswick, I moved to Toronto, Ontario, and a few months later, my family joined me. Unfortunately, I was still trapped in the cycle of drugs, alcohol, and hanging out with the wrong crowd. For over a decade, I struggled with my addictions, and there were times I honestly thought I wouldn’t survive—whether from an overdose, getting killed, or ending up in jail. But I finally made the decision to turn my life around, realizing I didn’t want to leave my son without a father.

I had always seen my father working out, and his dedication motivated me to start lifting weights. Even though I was still heavily addicted to drugs at the time, I tried to quit, but it was incredibly tough. Every time I attempted to stop, my body went into withdrawal, and the physical and mental pain was overwhelming. One day, as I was scrolling through my phone, I stumbled upon a Muay Thai fight highlight video. It was so captivating that I went on YouTube to watch the full fight. That was a turning point for me—I had already been working out, and I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try Muay Thai.

First, I knew I needed to overcome my addiction, so I checked myself into a detox center for help. While there, I started researching Muay Thai gyms and discovered an MMA gym that offered Muay Thai training. I called them up and told them I’d be joining after my recovery. They advised me to come after I finished detox, and that’s exactly what I did. Three years later, I’m still training at the same gym, Trillium MMA. Initially, my plan was just to focus on Muay Thai, but life had other plans for me. I ended up training in MMA, and I gave my heart and soul to the sport.

You faced challenges during your teenage years, including struggles with addiction and gang involvement. Can you share what led you down that path and the pivotal moment that inspired you to seek change?

Response : To be honest, I was always causing trouble—whether at school, at home, or anywhere I went. I can’t really pinpoint exactly what led me down that path, but I think it was just part of who I was. I had so much energy and no way to channel it, so I often found myself in fights. If I liked something, I would go all in, and some people would say I have an addictive personality.

In high school, I faced a lot of racism, and my friends and I formed a group to protect ourselves from it. This led to a lot of confrontations and fights. As I got older, I started hanging out with more dangerous people—drug dealers and serious criminals. The older I became, the more serious the crimes I was involved in. I sold drugs, robbed people, and targeted other drug dealers.

I honestly don’t know where I’d be today if it weren’t for my son. When he was born, I was still stuck in that lifestyle, but when he turned four, something inside me shifted. I realized I couldn’t keep living that way, and it was time to make a change. My son was the blessing that helped me turn my life around.

At 25, you made a life-altering decision to turn your life around. What internal and external factors motivated this transformation, and how did martial arts play a role in your recovery?

Response : As I mentioned, my son was the main reason I decided to turn my life around. When he turned four and started school, I found myself thinking a lot about the future. Every time I went to pick him up, I’d see other parents, and it hit me that if I kept living the way I was, it wouldn’t be fair to him. I didn’t want him to grow up without a father while his friends had theirs around.

Martial arts played a huge role in my recovery. Being in the gym with tough guys who knew how to fight pushed me to become better and stay focused. There’s a saying, “Iron sharpens iron,” and that’s exactly what happened. The guys in the gym became like brothers to me, and their support and training helped me stay on track. They gave me the strength I needed to leave my old habits behind and build a new life.

Starting with taekwondo at a young age, how has your training evolved over the years to include disciplines like kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and wrestling?

Response : Martial arts, like any sport, requires focus and discipline. When I started training again, I really began to understand the importance of those qualities. I took a long break from martial arts, stopping at the age of 12, and didn’t pick it up again until I was 26. Despite the long break, when I did start training again, I improved quickly.

Even though I wasn’t formally training, I stayed active. I used to wrestle with my friends and get into fights, which I believe helped me in my martial arts journey. But I want to make it clear—I’m not encouraging young people to fight outside the gym to improve their skills. The only real way to get good at MMA is through consistent, focused training in the gym, giving it everything you’ve got.

Can you discuss the influence of your coach, Sabir Bagautdinov, on your development as an MMA fighter? What are some key lessons you’ve learned under his guidance?

Response : Coach Sabir is one of the best coaches in the city, and I’m fortunate to have multiple coaches who each bring something unique to my training. I have a jiu-jitsu/wrestling coach, James Cockburn, a kickboxing coach, Xi Lau—who’s a professional MMA fighter and holds the 125lb championship belt—and Jim Tran, who acts as a mentor for all of us, being the oldest of the group. I train with all of my coaches, and they help me with everything I need to prepare for my fights.

Coach Sabir is from Dagestan, a region known for producing top MMA champions, and he has an extensive background with over 70 sanda (Chinese kickboxing) fights and 4 MMA bouts. He’s also a black belt in jiu-jitsu and has been training since he was five years old, so there’s so much I can learn from him. What I really appreciate about all of our coaches is that they’re skilled in every aspect of MMA—they’re excellent at both striking and grappling/wrestling.

Coach Xi Lau, who is 34 years old and still competing, is a great example of hard work paying off. Despite having two kids, including a newborn, he still manages to balance training and teaching kickboxing classes. His dedication has earned him the 125lb championship belt in CUFFMMA. Coach Sabir had to retire at 27 due to a back injury, even though he was still in his prime, but now, at 34, he focuses on helping his fighters improve. All of these coaches are great role models and inspire us to push ourselves further.

Balancing various martial arts disciplines requires immense dedication. How do you structure your training regimen to ensure proficiency in each area?

Response : Balancing different martial arts disciplines requires a lot of dedication, and maintaining a strict training regimen is key. During training camp, managing weight is a major focus. For instance, I usually walk around at 165lb, but I fight at 145lb, so I need to cut 20lb. About a month before the weigh-in, I focus on eating clean—usually just protein, like chicken or beef, for lunch, and some fruit. For dinner, I have rice with chicken curry, so I typically stick to two meals a day. I cut out sugar as much as possible, though I do have coffee with sugar in the morning and drink black coffee throughout the day.

During fight week, I limit myself to one meal a day, depending on my weight. If I’m on track, I’ll have fruit and one full meal. The day before the weigh-in, I don’t eat or drink anything. By that point, my weight is usually around 150-152lb, so I use sweat suits and activities like running, pad work, and air bikes to shed water weight. We can lose 5-10lbs of water weight in a short time, which is extremely challenging.

The toughest part of this sport is cutting weight, but after the weigh-in, we get over 24 hours to recover. That’s why it’s crucial to maintain discipline with your diet even when you’re not in camp, so that you don’t struggle during the final stretch before a fight.

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In your journey from addiction to becoming Bhutan’s first MMA fighter, what were some of the most significant obstacles you faced, and how did you overcome them?

Response : The most significant obstacles I faced were the battles within myself—my addiction, my past choices, and the uncertainty of whether I could change. For years, I was stuck in a cycle of drugs, alcohol, and poor decisions. It wasn’t until my son was born that I realized I had to make a change. I didn’t want him to grow up without a father. The hardest part was breaking free from my addictions, but through determination and seeking help—first in detox and then by focusing on training—I began to rebuild my life. Training in martial arts became my anchor, and it kept me grounded, giving me both the discipline and the focus I needed to keep moving forward.

I also relied heavily on the support of my family. My father always believed in me, even when I couldn’t believe in myself, and that motivation pushed me to stay committed to my recovery and my training.

Mental fortitude is crucial in both personal recovery and competitive sports. How do you cultivate mental strength, and what advice would you give to others facing similar challenges?

Response : I cultivate mental strength by staying grounded in my faith and trusting that everything happens for a reason. Knowing that my family depends on me and that I can’t let them down pushes me to be better each day. I constantly remind myself that the journey isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Martial arts, specifically MMA, taught me to embrace discipline and the importance of consistency. When you’re training, you face tough times, but you learn that every setback is an opportunity to get stronger.

To anyone facing similar challenges, my advice is this: never give up. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about making progress. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, just like my coaches and family believed in me. Focus on what you can control, take it one step at a time, and trust that hard work and determination will lead you to where you want to go.

As Bhutan’s first MMA fighter, how do you perceive your role in representing your country on the global stage? What does this responsibility mean to you?

Response : To be honest, it’s been overwhelming. Everything has happened so quickly. I’m still new to MMA, and I always dreamt of being recognized, maybe even making it to Kuensel, but not this soon. I’m still processing it all, so I can’t really give a clear answer yet.

Have you encountered any cultural challenges or support in your journey, both from Bhutanese communities and the international MMA community?

Response : The support I’ve received has been incredible. Everyone I’ve met in the MMA world has been supportive, especially the Bhutanese people. I knew I was the first from the city to take this path, but I didn’t realize I was the first from Bhutan. It’s been amazing to have that backing.

How do you stay connected to your Bhutanese roots while training and competing abroad? Are there cultural practices or values that you integrate into your training?

Response : My family is here, and the Bhutanese community in Toronto is growing, so I stay connected that way. It’s great to have that sense of home, even when I’m training and competing abroad. The values I carry, like discipline and respect, are part of my culture and are key to my training and mindset.

With your upcoming match against Antonin Petiteville at NFC 2 on February 15, 2025, in Simcoe, Ontario, how are you preparing for this bout? Are there specific strategies or areas of focus in your training?

Response : I’m focused on becoming the best MMA fighter I can be, so I work on both my striking and my ground game equally. I’m also putting a lot of effort into cardio, so I don’t get gassed out during the fight. My training is a balanced mix of striking, wrestling, grappling, strength, and conditioning.

Looking ahead, what are your goals within the MMA world? Do you have aspirations to compete professionally or perhaps mentor upcoming fighters from Bhutan?

Response : I plan to turn professional and continue fighting until I’m about 35 or 36. After that, I’d like to open a gym and focus on coaching. If I’m able to, I’d love to bring MMA to Bhutan and help the sport grow there. It’s all in God’s hands.

Beyond the ring, how do you envision using your platform to inspire others, particularly those who may be facing personal struggles similar to what you’ve overcome?

Response : I believe in taking baby steps and understanding where you are at that moment. Many people fall back into their old habits because they try to change everything at once. For me, it all started with small steps—just simple exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, squats, and running. I did that for about 6-7 months before I went into detox and started training MMA. I started with just bodyweight exercises, got clean and sober, and then I dove into MMA training. It’s about gradual progress, staying consistent, and not rushing the process.

Reflecting on your journey thus far, what moments stand out as the most defining or transformative?

Response : One moment that stands out to me was when I was so high that I could barely walk, and my son was chasing me, wanting me to pick him up. I couldn’t even lift him up. That was a turning point for me, and I realized I had to get sober—not just for me, but for him. That moment made me understand that I had to change for his sake.

How has your perception of success evolved from when you first started training to now?

Response : When I first started training, success was just about getting better at the sport and earning recognition. But as I’ve grown, my perception of success has shifted. It’s no longer just about the victories or the fame—success now is about consistency, discipline, and being a positive role model for others. It’s about staying true to yourself and pushing through the tough moments, not just for personal gain, but for the people who look up to you, like my son and the young people in Bhutan.

If you could share one message with young individuals in Bhutan who look up to you, what would it be?

Response : My message would be: Whatever you do in life, make time to work out and stay fit. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind. Fitness doesn’t just help you in sports; it helps you face challenges in life with strength and clarity. It’s a habit that can change your life. It’s all about discipline, focus, and commitment. If I can do it, so can you!

Lastly, how do you find balance and maintain well-being amidst the rigorous demands of training, competition, and personal life?

Response : I’ve found balance by sticking to a routine. I don’t drink or smoke anymore, and I don’t have much of a social life, so I have plenty of time for my family, work, and training. Having a supportive wife is a big part of that balance too—she helps me stay grounded. My life revolves around training and my family, and that keeps me focused. It’s all about maintaining that balance between the discipline I need in the gym and the time I need to be there for my loved ones.