A former high-level judoka, Adel Khaldoune eventually chose to pursue a career in mixed martial arts. Gifted, and particularly invested in his new project, he will have the opportunity to prove himself at home, on August 4, at Beziers ArenaAlthough he has been practicing MMA for less than two years, Adel Khaldoune already has competitive […]
Although he has been practicing MMA for less than two years, Adel Khaldoune already has competitive experience at the top level : A black belt in judo, he has long been part of the national team, and has won twice at the French national championships in the 1st division. This marks a real achievement in view of the density of competitors.
« I was good, but I didn’t want to make a living from judo. So when I had the opportunity to join INSEP [the French National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance], I took a different path by changing sports. As I have always been attracted to English boxing, I combined it with judo, and moved into MMA. »
The triggering factor was in fact more specific than that: During a day’s work on a construction site, Adel Khaldoune was drawn to a colleague who happened out to be a mixed martial arts teacher. “I saw that he had cauliflower ears, so since I was interested in the world of combat, I asked him a few questions. And this led me to winding up in his club! »
“Even napping I have a hard time with!”
At 24 years old, the Frenchman is now advancing in leaps and bounds in his new discipline. Undefeated on the amateur circuit, he chose to go professional in 2023, to “progress faster” and get closer to his performance goals.
“I was just waiting for the green light from my coaches! But as I’m learning quickly, I didn’t have to wait long to get my first fights. »
Determined, Adel Khaldoune trains twice a day, despite working physically as a contractor in the construction industry.
“I’m a bit hyperactive. Even napping I have trouble with! In my head, the days have to be filled to the maximum. At the same time, the Montpellier native also works on his profile, aware that MMA is now inseparable from media coverage. “On social media, it’s starting to work well!”
