PebHmong Discussion Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: theking on June 02, 2026, 10:51:05 PM
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Ambitious MMA fighter dies following fatal encounter with black bear
The life of an ambitious MMA fighter, with dreams of one day competing in the UFC, was horrifically cut short after a rare fatal encounter with a bear.
Hrishikesh Koloth was a 27-year-old mixed martial artist who was new to combat sports, having spent less than two years honing his skills as an amateur before tragically losing his life. 'Rishi' was known for his ability on the mats, collecting back-to-back wins in three straight grappling matches in the same night at AVA Okanagan, boasting a perfect 3-0 record as a submission specialist.
Koloth was a Canadian of Indian descent who had bold ambitions of one day forcing his way into the UFC, dreaming of showcasing his grappling prowess to the world on the biggest stage. Before his death, reports suggested that he had planned on relocating to Vancouver to start a new job as a boxing coach, an aspect of the fight game he had fallen in love with. Adding to his impressive submission grappling background and over a decade of training, Koloth believed he had a bright future, but that was unfortunately cut short following a fatal incident on May 8, 2026.
Hrishikesh Koloth was undergoing his routine duties as a subcontracted technician northeast of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a job he did to fund his MMA dream at the Zoo Bay uranium exploration camp. As he worked on-site, Koloth was unexpectedly attacked by a black bear, resulting in his death. Koloth's passing marked just the fourth recorded fatal bear attack in Saskatchewan's history, making it an extremely rare occurrence.
His brother, Arjun, was understandably devastated by the news. Arjun spoke publicly in the aftermath of the tragic events, praising Hrishikesh's warrior spirit and speaking of desires to one day be called up to the UFC.
"That was his dream. That's why he came here," Arjun told CBC News. "He wanted to fight in the UFC... Everybody had high hopes on him. It shouldn't have been like this."
Reminiscing on who his brother was, Arjun complimented Hrishikesh for being a fighter at heart, both inside and outside of the cage.
"He's not scared of anything," Arjun continued. "Two days' notice before a fight? Doesn't matter. Opponent heavier than him? Doesn't matter. Win or lose, he just wanted to fight... I wanted him to be known for what he does, how he was. I can't do anything anymore, so at least I could do this for him."
"I want him to be remembered for what he does. Innocent heart, fighter's soul. Warrior. And I'd just like to say he fought [the] bear. That's all. Bear didn't attack him. He attacked the bear."