In a stunning turn of events at ONE Championship 166, Bhullar faced an unprecedented disqualification in his bout against Greco-Roman Wrestling champion Amir Aliakbari.
The disqualification, officiated by renowned referee Herb Dean, culminated from Bhullar's persistent avoidance of engagement throughout the fight, marking a rare occurrence in professional mixed martial arts.
Bhullar, stepping into the cage with hopes of a title eliminator, adopted a strategy that saw him consistently moving backward, engaging minimally with his opponent. This approach led to several warnings from Dean, which Bhullar seemingly disregarded. The situation escalated in the second round with Dean issuing two yellow cards for stalling, a penalty that not only serves as a warning but also impacts the fighter's purse. Bhullar's reluctance to engage ultimately forced Dean's hand, leading to a red card and immediate disqualification with just 45 seconds left in the final round.