After more than 200 fights and 23 world titles in his Muay Thai career, Youssef Boughanem has taken on a new challenge in MMA. Eager to personally challenge himself and continue fighting, the Moroccan made his first appearance in the cage on Saturday, January 27th. He secured a victory by KO in the 2nd round after initially struggling in the fight.
Youssef Boughanem 1st MMA knockout
With his exceptional record, Youssef Boughanem was highly anticipated for his first MMA fight at FAF in Octogon, organized in the suburbs of Metz. He faced Dmytro Glevka, a Ukrainian who, despite being an underdog, strongly pushed the Muay Thai legend.
In the 1st round, Boughanem struggled to get started, getting hit hard several times while standing. On the brink of defeat, the Moroccan fighter managed to survive. His perseverance paid off a few minutes later. Finally finding his rhythm, he accelerated in the 2nd round, knocking his opponent down with several knee strikes before finishing him with ground and pound. An incredible comeback that earned him his first victory in MMA.
The Desire to Have Fun in MMA
While Youssef Boughanem was successful in his MMA debut, he does not plan to stay in the sport for long. At 34 years old, he knows he is in the twilight of his career and sees mixed martial arts as a fun endeavor, which he discussed in an interview with Le Républicain Lorrain:
“I’ve been watching MMA for years, my little brother talks to me about it. I wanted to have an experience in free fighting, to see what it feels like. It’s a new adventure, a dark hallway with a light at the end. But I do it for fun because I’ve already done what I needed to do in Muay Thai. No more than five or six fights. After that, I would like to take care of my children, educate them, and stay with them.”
