Renowned black belt Mansher Khera is ready to make his case for the UFC at CFFC 124: 'I am ready for the big show'

The decorated grappler has his sights set on success at the highest level, and he plans to impress Saturday on UFC FIGHT PASS.

For fans of grappling and jiu-jitsu, the name Mansher Khera is one that is very prominent amongst the sports.

The black belt has competed on the world's biggest stages for jiu-jitsu and has even captured a Polaris welterweight title during his career. While jiu-jitsu and grappling may have been his first love, a transition to MMA was always in the back of Khera's mind.

In December of 2021, Khera finally got to put his MMA skills to the test, as he made the switch from jiu-jitsu to fighting for Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Fighting Championship. While it may not have been traditional MMA because it was contested bare-knuckle, Khera actually preferred that fighting style compared to the regular gloved style.

"It was a great experience," Khera said. "I prefer, for MMA rules, I prefer bare knuckles over gloves to be honest with you. I believe it is better. I believe it's better, especially for me as a grappler, of course. I don't want to have gloves on. I would rather just have my bare hands – there are more chokes available that way. It's easier to connect your hands on the takedowns, so I feel it favors the grappler, actually.

"A lot of people think of bare-knuckle as getting punched in the face, but I feel like more, it is better as a grappler. It's a rule set I really like and a rule set I wish everyone would adopt."

Going from bare-knuckle MMA to regular MMA has yet to be a problem for Khera, as he has won all three of his professional bouts by way of submission. When CFFC 124 kicks off Saturday night, it will almost be one full year since Khera stepped in the octagon last in October of 2022, something he wasn't anticipating.

"I am super excited, man," Khera said about getting back in the cage. "If it was up to me, I would have fought at least three or four times in the past year, but I couldn't get any opponents – consistently having opponents say yes and then pulling out. I was finally able to get an opponent, and I am really happy he took this fight. I feel sharper than I've ever felt, I feel more skilled than I've ever felt, and I feel this is going to be a whole new version of me."

Khera (3-0) will fight as the co-main event of CFFC 124 against Jacob Hixenbaugh (2-1) in a lightweight bout at Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania that streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS.

While Khera has fought and competed on UFC FIGHT PASS previously with Polaris and Anthony Pettis FC, the opportunity to fight with CFFC is one he's extremely grateful for.

"I am super excited," Khera said. "This is one of the best promotions out there, especially if you are trying to get to the UFC. This is the way. I'm so happy to follow in the footsteps of so many legends who fought in that cage. I am going to cement my name in that cage alongside their name, and I'll continue to go to the next big step, which is the UFC."

As CFFC 124 nears, the training camp for Khera has been one of his best in recent memory – the biggest reason being his health – and now he is ready to put on a show.

"It's been a beautiful camp," Khera said. "I am pretty healthy. That is the biggest thing for me. I am very rarely usually able to finish camp without some sort of injury. I feel really, really good. I feel healthy. I've had a great team alongside me helping me get better. My team Cultr, my coach there Rich Van Houten, he's been a huge part of this camp and a huge part of my developmental process. I feel like I've been in camp for a long time because I kept assuming I was going to fight and then I didn't have a fight – people just kept dropping out – but I've been staying ready, and I am ready to go."

In regards to the fight Saturday night, Khera sees the fight going however he wants it. The grappling specialist is ready to take this fight to the ground or keep it on its feet, whatever he prefers.

"I think it plays out however I want it to play out," Khera said. "I think that is how the fight is going to play out. It's up to me where I decide to have this fight take place. I can keep it standing, I can take it down, so I feel it is going to be my fight."

As the 31-year-old lightweight prepares for the next step in his professional career, he has his eyes set on one thing, the UFC.

"If it was my choice I'd like to go to the UFC next," Khera said. "That would be the next step for me. I am ready for the big show, and I am going to show that this Saturday."

ARTICLE BY: DENNIS OLSON