This year didn’t start the way Mansher Khera had hoped. 

Walking into his home jiu-jitsu academy on a Monday afternoon in April after the IBJJF New York Open, Munch learned he and his teammate Dillon Danis would no longer be allowed to train at Marcelo Garcia Academy.

The only team he’d ever represented in jiu-jitsu was suspending him indefinitely. It was a shock not only to Munch but to most of the jiu-jitsu community as well.

Once a star member of the Macelo Garcia "dream team," Khera racked up gold medals at just about every high-level tournament in the world. And when he became the first person to ever go from white belt to black belt under the legendary Marcelo Garcia, it was clear Khera could win it all. 

However, for the first time ever, he’d now have to do it without Garcia in his corner.

"It's been a crappy year but it’s brought the best out of me."

"My 2017 was a mixture of odd emotions," Khera said. "A lot of ups and downs, you know. I went through a lot of bullshit this year and it sucks. But I feel like I’m coming out of it on a good note. You want to start the year going up but I started the year going down."

Just two months before the IBJJF World Championships, Khera and Danis scrambled to find a new home. Eventually the outcasted grapplers landing in Las Vegas at Robert Drysdale’s academy. But the move was temporary.

These days you can find Khera training at Unity Jiu-Jitsu, just a few blocks from his former academy, under Murillo Santana with top black belts such as the Miyao brothers and Felipe Cesar. 

The move has renewed Khera's confidence, and he is eager for an opportunity to show his improvements at the Kasai Pro Lightweight invitational on Dec. 9 in New York. The stacked tournament is filled with ADCC medalists, world champions, and even former teammates.

"I know people think I’m good, but I want to show everyone I’m really good. I’m among the best of the best. I wanted to show it at ADCC, but I came up short against Lucas (Lepri). But this is another shot for me against very high-level competition. This is my chance to prove that I am the best in the world. I’m very excited to prove that."

Munch in action versus Lucas Lepri, Photo: Hywel Teague

"Kasai is a high-level version of Copa Podio but no-gi," Khera said. "So I feel like when there is money involved there is better competitors involved. I’m very exciting for this type of tournament. It’s very different from what I am used to, and any time I do something new I’m very passionate about it. This is something that gets me excited."

As the year begins to wrap up, Munch’s chances to turn things around get smaller and smaller. However, Khera said he is grateful for the experience and has learned a lot from it.

"I’m more in control now," he said. "I got kicked out I had to take care of myself. I didn’t have anybody. It was just me and my friend Dillon. I’m bringing myself back to my feet, so it's ending on a good note. And it’ll continue to go on a good note."

Watch Mansher Khera, Garry Tonon, AJ Agazarm, and more compete for the Kasai World Lightweight Championship on Dec. 9 LIVE right here on FloGrappling!