How Mounir Lazzez's UFC success has brought Arab region's fighters together
Mounir Lazzez’s big UFC debut has motivated the Arab region.
Lazzez (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) impressed by upsetting powerhouse Abdul Razak Alhassan at UFC on ESPN 13 in July and is already booked for his second UFC fight when he takes on David Zawada on Oct. 17, once again in Abu Dhabi.
But something special happened after Lazzez’s successful promotional debut – it has brought some of the best fighters in the Arab region together. The likes of BRAVE CF welterweight champion Jarrah Al-Selawe, undefeated Hashem Arkhaga, Omar Hussein, Tarek Suleiman and Izzeddin Al Derabani all flew to Dubai to train with Lazzez at Team Nogueira for their upcoming fights.
Tunisia’s Lazzez was the first born-and-raised Arab fighter to be signed to the UFC and, shortly after, Jordan’s Ali Alqaisi followed suit. Lazzez always hoped that his debut would open doors for his fellow fighters in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and is happy to be sharing the mats with some of them in preparation for their upcoming fights.
“Have you seen what Team Nogueira Dubai looks like nowadays?” Lazzez asked MMA Junkie. “There hasn’t been that much strong regional talent in once place since the Desert Force days. I am getting fantastic training with my regional colleagues and we are all working together to lift each other up. Whether it’s in my same weight class or not, we are working with each other to help each other get the best opportunities possible and it is a beautiful thing.
“I was the first to break through, Ali Alqaisi followed. They know their opportunity will come, they just have to remain ready. Focus is key now and pedal to the metal until we can show the world how the fighters of the region are.”
With the UFC making their second trip to “Fight Island” just three months after their first set of shows in July, Lazzez is expecting many more fighters from the region to eventually get their shot in the octagon.
“Every now and then the UFC go to a region and there is an influx of fighters from there that appear on the roster,” Lazzez said. “It happened with the Brazilians, South Americans once they entered the Brazilian, South American market stronger. It happened in Europe once they held more frequent events outside of the U.K. in Europe. It happened with fighters from Oceania as more events took place there. It also happened with fighters from the Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus as they saw their level, and lastly Chinese fighters. Now its the MENA region’s turn.”