“I’m healthy, and I’m thankful for that. I can go home to my family in one piece, thank god,” Arjan Bhullar said after a decisive decision victory over Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli. “Aside from that, it was very successful. It’s about hit, and don’t get hit. We did that a lot. We got a unanimous decision from all the judges, and I’m very happy.”

TOKYO – Wrestling great-turned MMA fighter Arjan Singh Bhullar continued his domination by making a successful debut at ONE Championship, beating Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli by unanimous decision in Tokyo last Sunday.

Canada’s top heavyweight barely used his wrestling, and instead out struck a knockout artist when he decided to stand and trade with Cerilli.

“I’m healthy, and I’m thankful for that. I can go home to my family in one piece, thank god,” Bhullar said. “Aside from that, it was very successful. It’s about hit, and don’t get hit. We did that a lot. We got a unanimous decision from all the judges, and I’m very happy.”

The former Commonwealth Games gold medalist wrestler improved his professional MMA record to 10-1 with the win after crossing over from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to the new league for bigger payday and star status.

Coming off a two fight winning streak in the UFC, Arjan signed with ONE earlier this year and was matched up against former Cage Warriors Heavyweight Champion and ONE Heavyweight title contender, Cerilli from Italy.

Though he could not knock “The Hammer” down, Cerilli’s face wore the marks of a man who had absorbed a significant number of blows, including several superb uppercuts.

“He’s very tough, strong, and was able to defend some of my takedowns,” Bhullar admits.

“He took some greats shots from my hands tonight. He kept coming, he wanted to win, but thankfully, I have great training partners, and I have a big heart.

“It’s always tough. I always had to stay sharp. I have the will to win, and that’s what I’m here to do.”

The bout opened the main card of the landmark “ONE Championship: Century (Part 2)” event, watched by an estimated 70 million people across the planet.

The fight began with Cerilli finding early success with leg kicks and quick jabs. Arjan stood his ground and tried to go for single-leg takedowns but Cerilli managed to prevent those. One of Mauro’s hooks even rocked Arjan for a moment but the latter withstood the pressure and in the second round, the fight began to turn with Arjan answering with quick jabs and upper cuts, opening up a cut under Cerilli’s eye

The third round saw more of the back and forth between the two Heavyweights with fast punches flying both ways. Arjan pressed Mauro up against the cage which Mauro escaped, and he kept stuffing the takedown attempts as well. But Arjan, weathering the storm, finished the fight strong, landing a number of punches during a flurry of haymakers as the final seconds rolled down.

The judges unanimously awarded the victory to Arjan Singh Bhullar.

With this successful promotional debut against a former title challenger, Arjan Singh Bhullar has landed himself right among the top contenders in the division. Bhullar was blunt that he wants to take on Heavyweight champ Brandon Vera for the Championship belt.

“It has always been my dream to become the champion. I’ve been thinking about it ever since I started my journey in Mixed Martial Arts… Brandon Vera is a great fighter, a true champion. He has done some great things for the Filipino people. I want to do the same for India.”

It remains to be seen if Arjan’s next fight is for the belt or he is matched up with another top contender in the division in a fight for the spot of the top pick for a title bout.

A win against a former ONE Heavyweight World Title challenger has put Bhullar straight into contention to challenge for the gold in The Home Of Martial Arts.

That is a prospect that has him, and all of the mixed martial arts fans in his motherland, excited about the chance to make history as Canada’s first World Champion in the sport. He would also be the first of Indian-Punjabi descent to become the champion

 “Very, very excited. You know I’m here to be a World Champion,” he says.

“I need what Brandon Vera has. He has what he did in the Philippines for the Filipino people. I need to do that for Canada and for the Indian people. I want to live my dream and be a World Champion myself. I wish him the best, but that’s the goal moving forward.

“I am very excited. Me and the whole ONE Championship team are going to set the country on fire – one billion strong.”