- The next unstoppable force in Lankan MMA
Dulaj Hesara is a 19-year-old force to be reckoned with, fuelled by discipline, pressure, and an insatiable hunger for self-improvement. As a combat sports enthusiast, he's built a lifestyle around fighting - a crucible that forges resilience, respect, and mental toughness. With an unwavering commitment to progress, Dulaj shows up every day, honing his technique, strengthening his body, and cultivating a calm and focused mind-set.
Dulaj says he is grounded yet confident, driven yet disciplined and he's a fighter who embodies loyalty, respect, and humility - in and out of the gym. “My mantra? Constant evolution, tougher challenges, and representing myself with pride”, notes the rising combat sport athlete. The Daily Morning had a lengthy chat with Dulaj about the ins and outs of his combat life.
Following are excerpts of the interview:
Tell us about your childhood and school life?
My school was Mahinda College, Galle, and my school life was really fun and full of memories that I’ll always remember. It was a time filled with friends, jokes, classes, and all the usual chaos of school days. Growing up, I was actually a big chubby boy, and because of that some of my friends even gave me the nickname Panda Baby. It stuck with me for most of my school years, and many people knew me by that name. As a kid, I was more into singing and acting than studies or sports, so I mostly stayed close to the stage rather than the playground. I was part of the school choir, and we spent a lot of time practicing for assemblies and events. I was also in the English Drama Circle, which became a big part of my school life. Practices after school, staying late, forgetting lines, laughing with friends — all of that made those years unforgettable. Looking back, my time at Mahinda College was full of fun moments, mistakes, nicknames, and experiences that still stick in my mind today.
What is your first contact point with sports?
To be honest, I did many sports during my school years, but I never really stuck with one for a very long time. I first started with swimming. I never competed or went for meets; I just genuinely loved swimming and spending time in the pool. After that, I moved on to cricket. That was the time I actually started doing one sport a bit more consistently, going for practices and playing regularly, but even that lasted only about a year. Then I switched to football, which I really enjoyed, but I had to stop because of the pandemic, just like many other things in life at that time. After that, sports slowly faded out of my routine. I focused more on studies, and that was about it until I did my O/L’s. Finishing my O/L’s and completing my foundation took around one and a half years, and during that whole period I didn’t do any sports at all. Looking back, I tried a lot of different things, but never fully settled into one sport for long. Still, each one of those experiences is a part of my story and the kind of person I grew up to be.
How did you get into combat sports?
How I got into combat sports is actually a pretty interesting story. All of this happened after I finished my foundation and started a small self-improvement phase in my life. I began taking better care of my body, eating clean, working out daily, and basically giving myself a fresh start. I was 17 at the time. I was still part of my school drama team, and we were getting ready for our annual drama festival, so we had practices almost every day. While we were practicing, one of my good friends, Charith, joked that we should fight just for fun. We didn’t have gloves or any proper equipment, so we decided on bare-knuckle body-shot boxing only. We first started fighting at the back of the auditorium, but that didn’t last long because we were told not to do it there. We moved to a small hallway behind the stage, out of sight, and continued there instead. We grew really close through these shared interests and also started going to the gym together. Around this time, another good friend of mine, Sihara, flew down from Australia. He was also part of our drama team and was interested in the same things. The three of us shared a lot of great memories together—fighting, training, laughing, and just spending time with each other. Sihara even had gloves, so we started sparring properly. That’s how I first got into combat sports.
Tell us a little about your Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and kickboxing journey?
As I grew more interested in combat sports, I joined a club called Dragon Muay Thai in Galle, training under Kru (trainer) Chaminda. After just one month of training, I made my debut at the WBC Amateurs in 2024. I lost that fight, but I didn’t let it stop me. I continued training, often with my good friend Chamuditha, who is well-known in the Sri Lankan Muay Thai scene. Around the same time, I started a commercial cookery course at SLIIT. Chamuditha told me about the SLIIT MMA team and Coach Kaz de Silva. I joined the team, began training seriously, and fought at ‘Combat by Jesh’ in 2024. I lost again, but this only motivated me to push harder. In January 2025, I competed at the Muay Thai Nationals, where I won three fights—two by first round finishes—and earned the silver medal after losing in the finals. This achievement made me hungrier for success.
Soon after, I started working as a trainee chef at Verticle by Jetwing as part of my culinary course. This caused me to lose around two and a half months of training. However, in June, Coach Kaz asked me to join and train as a backup fighter for ‘Unleash 01’. I trained during my work breaks and off days, and a week before the event, one of our fighters had to pull out due to injury. I stepped in, went through a short sparring session, and made my MMA debut with only one week’s notice, winning via second-round TKO against Nipun Silva. From there, I got more involved in training and fought at Unleash 2, winning via first-round knockout against Muad Cader, a WBC Amateur gold medallist.
Later, ‘Combat By Jesh’ happened again, this time as a kickboxing fight. I trained harder than ever, and won via first round knockout. I thought my year was done, but another opportunity came thanks to my coach: Cage Rage. This fight was not just any fight—it was the main event of the night, and I was representing Sri Lanka against a seasoned Pakistani MMA prospect, Amanullah. I had only one month to prepare, and although I had been training in K1 and Muay Thai, it was still a huge challenge. With Coach Kaz guiding me, we adapted, even moving mats to my garage and making the most of the environment around us despite lacking professional equipment. With God by my side, I won the main event via first-round knockout within 40 seconds. That fight was more than just a victory; it was about representing Sri Lanka, showing resilience, and proving that nothing can stop us when you train with heart, faith, and an incredible team by your side. If one asks me how I do it I’ll say without any hesitation “My strength comes from god”.
What are your latest achievements in the sport?
Muay Thai silver medallist, combat by Jesh K-1 gold medallist and MMA undefeated 3-0 and the last fight being against Amanullah Rehmatullah a Pakistani fighter as a main event at cage rage.
How's the combat sports scene in Sri Lanka now?
Right now, the combat sports scene in Sri Lanka is rapidly growing and becoming more competitive than ever before. Local fight leagues and events are being launched to give fighters real platforms to showcase their skills in MMA, Muay Thai, grappling, and kickboxing, helping Sri Lanka build a stronger presence in the sport. For example, the promotion Unleash has been officially launched to support and elevate local MMA, Muay Thai, and grappling talent, featuring fighters from Sri Lanka and abroad at events like Unleash Absolute Warriors in Colombo.
What are your most memorable moments in your sporting journey?
To be honest, every day I spent training in the gym was special to me. Each session — whether it was hard sparring, drilling basics, or just sweating through conditioning — became a memory I value. One of the moments that really stood out was when I was getting ready for Road to Unleash 2. Then four of us, Saad, another fighter, and a good friend and I were basically living at the gym. We were cutting weight, training nonstop, laughing through exhaustion, and surviving on egg roti’s, sting, and coconut water. It was tough, chaotic, and simple — but it’s something I’ll never forget in a jiffy.
A huge part of all these memories is my coach, Kaz de Silva. He’s not just a coach but a mentor who believed in me even when I doubted myself. He pushed me when I was tired, kept me focused when things were difficult, and prepared me mentally as much as physically. A lot of who I am as a fighter comes from his guidance and discipline. Above everything, none of this would have been possible without God. Every opportunity, every fight, every lesson, every win and loss — I believe all of it was given to me through his plan. When I look back at my journey, every fight and every training session is a good memory, and I’m grateful for all of it.
Why should there be more support from the general public and the sports authorities to popularise combat sports?
Mixed Martial Arts is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and Sri Lanka has the talent to compete at a high level, but the sport needs much more support from both the general public and sports authorities to truly develop. Increased support helps create better training facilities, qualified coaches, medical support, and safer competition environments. Without backing, many fighters train with limited equipment, few sponsors, and very little financial stability, even while representing the country.
Public interest also plays a huge role. When more people watch events, follow fighters, and talk about MMA, it encourages young athletes to join the sport instead of giving up due to lack of recognition. It also attracts sponsors and media coverage, which directly helps fighters to continue training seriously.
Support from sports authorities is equally important. Proper organization, national events, transparent selections, and pathways to international competitions allow fighters to see a real future in MMA. This doesn’t just create athletes; it builds discipline, confidence, and career paths for youth who might otherwise drift away from sports completely. With greater support, Sri Lanka can produce world-class MMA athletes, host major events, and build a strong combat sports culture that brings pride to the nation.
What are your thoughts on the current support that you get from your friends and family?
The support I’m receiving from my family, my girlfriend’s family, and my friends means everything to me. My school friends, university friends, training partners, and everyone who has stood by me have played a huge role in my journey. My coach has also made personal sacrifices to help me reach this level, pushing me, guiding me, and believing in me when things were difficult. I wouldn’t be here without that kind of commitment.
I am truly thankful to all my friends and family for supporting me throughout every stage of this path — from my early training days to stepping into the cage. Your messages, prayers, and rides to training, late-night conversations, and simple check-ins all mattered more than you know. I will never forget how much each and every one of you did for me. Whatever I achieve in the future, it will always be because of the strength you all gave me.
What's a message you'd like to share with parents who are against sending their kids to combat sports?
Aha, my message to parents who are against sending their kids into combat sports is simple: today, children need to know how to defend themselves. Anything can happen, even in broad daylight, and having basic self-defence skills can truly help them. Beyond that, combat sports have a powerful positive impact on kids mentally, physically, and in terms of discipline. They become more focused, respectful, and controlled. Many parents worry that if their children do combat sports, they will get into more street fights. In reality, it’s usually the opposite. Anyone who seriously trains in martial arts learns emotional control, respect for others, and the importance of avoiding unnecessary conflict.
I believe parents shouldn’t be afraid of letting their kids join a martial arts club. They’re not just learning how to fight, they’re learning confidence, discipline, self-control, and how to protect themselves if they ever truly have to.
Finally, what have you got to say to the future generation of fighters?
To the future generation of fighters, I’d say this: fall in love with the journey, not just the result. Every training session, every sparring round, every win and when you’re tired, broke, hungry, or unsure of yourself but those are the days that build real fighters.
Respect your coaches, because they sacrifice more than most people ever see. Listen, learn, and stay humble. Surround yourself with good teammates, real friends, and family who support you, because you will need them more than you realize. Never forget to be grateful — to your parents, your supporters, and to God, because none of this is possible without Him.
Train hard, stay disciplined, don’t chase shortcuts, and control your ego. Fighting is not about violence, it’s about self-belief, discipline, and standing up after life knocks you down.
And remember: you don’t need perfect facilities or perfect circumstances. Sometimes it’s just a few mats, a small gym, coconut water, and big dreams. If you give everything with heart and faith, nothing can stop you, the sky is the limit.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the interviewee, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication