The Nantes native Amin Ayoub.

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Amin Ayoub

  • Ten days ago, Amin Ayoub, aged 25, became MMA world champion.

  • This Nantes resident, who currently lives in the Bellevue district, has always dreamed of becoming a professional in this discipline.

  • His goal now is to fight in the most exclusive division: the UFC.

For his 25th birthday, Amin Ayoub gave himself a nice gift ten days ago.

A belt, but not just any, that of world champion of MMA (mixed martrial arts or free-fight) of less than 70 kg of the category Brave FC (5th division of the world organization of the discipline).

A title acquired in Barheïn, far from all his relatives and his family.

A hell of a great reward for this Nantes resident, who, depending on his parents' moves, lived either in Dervallières, or in Breil, or in Bellevue, or in Couëron etc.

“My parents liked to change, they weren't stable in an apartment,” laughs Amin, a resident of the Delariva Nantes club, based in Chapelle-sur-Erdre.

Amin Ayoub all smiles with his new belt.

- Dark Studio

Today, with his two young daughters and his wife, Amin has moved to Bellevue "with a magnificent view of the towers".

In the neighborhood, all the inhabitants know it and nobody rubs it.

"I rarely get pissed off," he smiles.

People know what sport I do.

»A discipline he has been practicing since the age of ten and in which he has become a professional for six years.

Nothing however predestined Amin to practice this sport, legalized since the beginning of the year.

At school, "I wasn't even a brawler," he admits.

“I wasn't comfortable in class, but that's not why I was looking for trouble.

Moreover, neither of his two parents was involved in a combat sport.

The eldest of a family of six children will therefore be the only one to step into the ring or enter the octagon.

“We always said I had a boxer's face!

"

It is more physical predispositions that push him to MMA.

“Ever since I was little, everyone has told me that I have a boxer's head and raised cheekbones and that I have to do boxing.

"He was quickly offered MMA, he immediately joined" this mix of judo, karate, wrestling etc.

He then fell in love with a mad passion for this discipline, yet not yet authorized in France and even frowned upon by public opinion.

At 16, he left school to the chagrin of his parents.

“MMA is all I wanted to do.

“From 18 to 21, he works in parallel with sport at Nantes town hall.

Then, at the age of 21, when the municipality offered him an extension, he devoted himself to MMA.

"I take off and do just that!"

In the octagon, his professional status requires him to remove all protection.

“It feels a bit weird the first time you take full blows.

It's a different state of mind.

"

Amin, first French in his category and 85th in the world, surrounds himself with a nutritionist, a physical trainer, a physiotherapist and obviously a manager who finds him struggling.

Which are a source of income which is added to the company (Carquefou automobile garage) which sponsors it.

“I miss companies willing to subsidize me.

"And in particular to cover the cost of the many training camps abroad.

Amin does not ride on gold, but lives off his passion.

The one that gives him very strong adrenaline rushes.

“We are not afraid of the adversary when we enter the octagon, we are afraid of defeat, but above all of disappointing those close to us!

If we are afraid of someone, we start losing.

With this title of world champion in Brave FC, the one who is nicknamed Fierceness ("give up nothing") can now dream of fighting in the most posh division in the world of MMA.

“This title opens the doors of the UFC to me, that's the Grail!

"

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