Anjan Bhullar set to make octagon debut at UFC 215

File Photo: MMA athlete Arjan Bhullar (left) and WWE Champion Jinder Mahal

Bengaluru, September 6: Former Canadian Olympic wrestler Arjan Bhullar is set to make his UFC debut in Canada this Saturday (September 9) at UFC 215 in Edmonton.

In his early training days, Bhullar trained with former UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier at the American Kickboxing Academy, the duo have held a longstanding friendship since the Canadian's Olympic career.

"It really set the mood for the rest of my camp," Bhullar told 'Sportsnet'.

"Cormier was getting ready for his championship fight with [Jon Jones] at that time. So he had some guys in town that dipped into that training. Getting ready for a high profile fight like that it rubs off on everybody in the room. I'm grateful to be a part of that."

Bhullar faces Brazilian Luis Henrique on the preliminary card at UFC 215 in the only heavyweight bout on the night.

Former champ Junior dos Santos was set to face rising star Francis Ngannouu as per the original schedule, however Dos Santos was flagged by USADA for a doping violation. Bhullar mentioned he was never asked to fight Ngannouu on short notice, but did chime in on the work USADA is doing with the UFC.

"I'm happy it happened because I'm such a big supporter of a clean sport," Bhullar explained.

"I've been tested over 10 years as an athlete. The way they do is the only way to do it - randomly throughout the year. That was a big decision in signing with the UFC. Now that it happened recently with Jon Jones I'm even happier there."

A friend and teammate of DC, Arjan also shared his thoughts on Jones' recent failed dope test.

"I'm a believer in DC's theory that [Jones] has been on this for a long time," Bhullar said.

"He cycled off of the [Ovince Saint Preux] fight, then got back on it. If you watch Jon Jones and study him, he comes from a place of fear. The partying, the cocaine and this and that. That was a mask that was a way to deal with the internal conflicts he's been dealing with for years."

"Same with this stuff. Once you take that stuff you can't come off it and be the same mentally. There was no way he would have done it clean if he was on it before. And you know what? The truth is out there again."

Bhullar has won three of his six career fights by knockout and the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist will also be making history, becoming the first South Asian fighter to compete in the Octagon. A proud Canadian of Indian origin, Bhullar also revealed that more than 200 people will be watching him live this Saturday including a certain WWE champion.

"Jinder Mahal will be making the walk with me to the cage. I've also got some other Bollywood stars coming out. We're excited, we're on point...We're peaking at the right time. We're just excited to let it loose there."