When Rabindra Dhant appeared in a short social media video uploaded by Ultimate Fighting Championship on Thursday, he looked calm, relaxed and ready. He sported black shades, white T-shirt and a necklace carrying his favourite god—Lord Hanuman, the lord of supreme strength and a disciplined mind. “My surname is Dhant,” Dhant said, punching his left palm with his right fist. “And I hit the shot Dhantshot.”

When Dhant, Nepal’s star bantamweight aka ‘Bajhang ko Baagh’, enters the octagon to fight New Zealand’s Kasib ‘Murder’ Murdoch, he will be in for his toughest fight yet—the fight of his life. And his ardent fans back in Nepal would want to see nothing less than his opponent getting knocked out by Dhantshot, a fan term for Dhant’s trademark high-impact strike. The term has spawned a rap song, countless memes and reels.

It is unlikely, however, that Dhant will have an easy fight.

Both of the fighters have an impressive pro-MMA record. Of the 11 professional MMA bouts, Dhant has won 10. Dhant holds eight wins by knockout or technical knockout. Dhant’s ability to shower opponents with furious punches and kicks has led to most of his wins coming by knockout. And on Friday, as the Bajhang ko Baagh enters the cage, he would want nothing less than hand Murdoch his first professional loss with the Dhantshot.

Murdoch has never lost a pro-MMA fight, boasting an impeccable 8-0 record. He has five wins by KO/TKO, two by submission and one by judges’ decision.

It is expected to be a brutal battle. But when the two met for the faceoff on Thursday, it went without any pushes and banter. The two looked into each other’s eyes, smiled and walked away. Inside the octagon on Friday, however, smiles will be scarce.

While Murdoch will be wary of Dhant’s head start with punches and kicks, Dhant should be prepared for Murdoch’s skills in wrestling, grappling and boxing.

Coach Diwiz Piya remains confident that Dhant’s rigorous training will yield a positive result. “Rabindra has been working tremendously—deep into training his body, mind and everything,” Piya said recently. “He is prepared…It is him [Rabindra] who is going to show. So, we will wait for him to show rather than me talk too much.”

Murdoch’s social media antics of late might be one reason Dhant wants to finish it off in style. With a win, Dhant would also want to bring a smile to the Nepali community left devastated by flash floods on Wednesday that left hundreds dead and many more missing.

“Our heart goes out to our country and people back home at this time of crisis,” Piya wrote on social media on Thursday morning. “We are here for a task and duty to represent. Lord knows we have cut no corners. We hope to make you all proud.”