UFC’s first Sikh fighter hopes he can wear turban to Octagon
Arjan Bhullar: “If they realize, it doesn’t conflict with Reebok athletes code for clothing. I brought it up, and it’s getting bounced around beyond that.”
The UFC’s Reebok apparel policy has done it again. Undefeated UFC heavyweight Arjan Bhullar, the league’s first fighter of South Indian extraction, and the first Sikh, was prohibited from wearing a turban during his Octagon walkout for his successful debut vs. Luis Henrique on September 9. Although when competing internationally in wrestling Bhullar represents Canada, where he was born, he also wants to represent 1.3 billion people as the UFC’s first Punjabi fighter.
If they realize, it doesn’t conflict with Reebok athletes code for clothing, he said to Steven Marrocco and Chamatkar Sandhu or MMAjunkie. I brought it up, and it’s getting bounced around beyond that.
The heavyweight said the UFC had reacted with sympathy but has not changed their stance.
Moving forward, I’m hoping to make [the right to wear a turban] a reality. Not only that, but bring some awareness to what that’s about. There are obviously others out there who do not understand what that means for a culture like ours.
As an athlete, I want to do more than just compete in the cage, so there’s a perfect scenario for me.
While the turban is an item of fashion, it is also a central part of being a Sikh. The world’s fifth largest faith developed during the 15th through 18th centuries in South Asia, when the turban was worn only by society’s elite. However, Sikhism is an egalitarian faith, and mandated that all believers wear the turban as a sign of equality. Keeping the head covered in public or in religious spaces is also a sign of respect.
