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Make no mistake, Arjan Bhullar didn’t wish to sit out the previous two years.
After signing with ONE Championship in free company following 4 fights within the UFC, Bhullar instantly began constructing momentum with a win in his debut earlier than knocking off Brandon Vera to turn into the brand new heavyweight champion. With plans to increase into India the place Bhullar is aware of he can be a large asset to the corporate, the 37-year-old fighter anticipated a really vivid highway forward however as a substitute he ran right into a brick wall.
Following his title combat victory, Bhullar entered into contract renegotiations with ONE as he sought a greater general deal. The extended course of ended up dragging out for over a yr, which meant Bhullar’s fast ascent was stunted and he was caught sitting on the sidelines whereas lacking time through the prime of his profession.
“I win the title, momentum, excited, all that stuff however there’s additionally the enterprise finish of it,” Bhullar advised MMA Combating. “So we attempt to renegotiate, get that championship stage pay, a brand new deal and that took actually means longer than I anticipated. It took us a yr to truly get it pen to paper and that was very, very irritating.
“I mainly leaned on my administration to get it performed and I simply stayed coaching. It simply saved dragging out however finally we received it performed.”
As disappointing because it was to take a seat out for a yr whereas working in the direction of a brand new settlement with ONE Championship, Bhullar admits now that it was all price it.
Not solely did he get a extra profitable contract however he ended up with a greater relationship with ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong after they had been successfully on reverse websites butting heads about his deal.
“On the again finish [of those negotiations], me and Chatri have a direct line now,” Bhullar mentioned. “It’s been very, superb. It’s no extra of his folks, my folks, none of that. I received a brand new deal. It’s a type of issues that excites me to get again.”
In a sport the place athletes not often agree on something unanimously, pay throughout MMA is one topic the place it’s virtually universally accepted that fighters are undervalued. Bhullar understood that coming off his title combat win in opposition to Vera, which is why he needed to maximise his alternative when he was the absolute best place throughout his profession.
Whereas he acknowledges that fighters are successfully making an attempt to ice skate uphill when making an attempt to leverage themselves when going up in opposition to a robust promotion, Bhullar couldn’t reside with himself if he didn’t attempt to do higher for his profession and the way in which he gives for his household when he had the possibility to strike a brand new cope with ONE.
Each side needed to compromise however Bhullar finally appears like he received what he needed and ONE Championship will most actually profit from these negotiations as nicely.
“I consider in win-win,” Bhullar mentioned. “I deliver one thing to the game. You bought a cope with Star Sports activities [in India], which is in 800 million houses and there’s no different Indian fighter. Not solely am I that fighter however I’m the champion. Not solely am I a champion however I’m the heavyweight champion.
“I deliver one thing to the desk and I perceive that. I’m not trying to simply open up the checkbook and also you’re not going to get worth in return. I perceive what I can do for the promotion in return as nicely.”
Signing his new contract was speculated to be the final step earlier than he returned to defend his title however then Bhullar needed to cope with a bicep damage that after once more saved him out of motion.
In his absence, undefeated Russian Anatoly Malykhin made a quick stand up the ranks by capturing the interim ONE heavyweight title earlier than turn into a two-division champion after taking out former gentle heavyweight king Reinier de Ridder.
As he prepares for his return at ONE Friday Fights 22, Bhullar not solely has a brand new contract and a wholesome bicep however he additionally has a problem worthy of his consideration.
“I’m very, very blissful now,” Bhullar mentioned. “I’ve received an amazing opponent arising who’s performed nice issues whereas I’ve been away. It’s going to imply extra beating him.
“There’s extra eyeballs on the product with the Amazon Prime [deal], the U.S. debut blowing up. With our promotion blowing up in India with Star Sports activities main in. I’ve received an amazing relationship with Chatri. I’m getting paid what I consider is honest. I’m in a position to do issues in return for the corporate, they’re prioritizing the Indian market. We simply did a complete tour on that. We’ve really received one thing deliberate on the again finish of this. All people wins.”
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