"Ready for what's next" - India's Anshul Jubli teases a "meaner" UFC comeback almost 11 months after debut setback in Abu Dhabi
Indian MMA star Anshul Jubli has promised fans a successful comeback, after his UFC debut last year ended in defeat.
Jubli became only the second Indian fighter in history to earn a contract with the promotion, following his success in the lightweight tournament on season 1 of Road to UFC. He defeated Jeka Saragih in the finale, finishing him via TKO, and also earned himself a performance bonus for his efforts.
'King of Lions' was then handed his UFC debut against Mike Breeden at UFC 294. Breeden had missed weight leading up to the fight, but Jubli accepted the bout anyway in the hopes to show off his skills.
Unfortunately for the 29-year-old, however, it didn't quite go to plan as despite showing signs of promise, he was knocked out in the third round.
Following the loss, Anshul Jubli opted to take some time away from the octagon to recover and regroup.
Now, 11 months later, he appears to be gearing for his return to the cage and shared an update on Instagram. According to Jubli, much of his time away has been spent making changes to help bring him success in the UFC. He captioned the post:
"August well spent :) Last month brought a lot of changes. I’ve become more disciplined with sleep and recovery, with my priorities now crystal clear—Ramji comes first. Injuries are healing well, and I never stopped grinding. I’ve also grown a bit meaner, more focused, and ready for what’s next."
Check out the post here:
Anshul Jubli explains why fighting for India is so important to him
Prior to making his UFC debut last year, Anshul Jubli spoke exclusively to Sportskeeda MMA and discussed what it feels like to represent his country in MMA.
According to Jubli, whilst he's fully aware that fighting isn't as popular of a sport in India as the likes of cricket, he still feels as though he has the entire country backing him to be a success. He then added that although the potential monetary earnings in the UFC could make him rich, he puts fighting for India above anything else.
Anshul Jubli said:
“Yes, yes. And see, we Indians are very patriotic. We love our country. If you’re representing our country internationally, we’re gonna support you like anything. It’s not as big as cricket and everything but still we will be there for you. So, I am getting all this support and love which I am very grateful of, you know. That’s what I carry, like, what are you fighting for? Like for you, and for money, I’m fighting for my country.”