“If I fight in France, I’ll bring at least 1,000 spectators back to the hall!” Mehdi Ben Lakhdhar, 32, is fully aware of his popularity and the buzz his outings in the cage generate. Indeed, over the past few years, he has been able to unite many fans around his personality, but above all around his style, characterized by spectacular boxing.

“I have around fifty amateur fights to my name, I was vice-champion of France, and I also went through the INSEP for two years, ” he explains. “In fact, it was after that that I switched to MMA. In fact, I didn’t want to turn professional in boxing just to turn professional. At the time, in France, it wasn’t very attractive. ” So today, he enjoys using his fists in the world of mixed martial arts. And even though he’s got lightning in his gloves, Mehdi Ben Lakhdhar isn’t a one dimensional fighter.

“IT’ S TRUE THAT I HAVEN’ T BEEN SEEN GOING TO THE GROUND MUCH IN MY FIGHTS, BUT I TRAIN A LOT IN GRAPPLING AND WRESTLING. I THINK I MIGHT SURPRISE A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHO JUST SEE ME AS A STRIKER. ”

Since his debut in the cage, the Frenchman stood out with his boxing, notably at Cage Warriors, where he won three times by TKO in the first round. These benchmark performances lend respect to his status as a French MMA star. So, for sure, Mehdi Ben Lakhdhar’s mind is full of confidence. “I said I’d accept anyone. I have ambitions, and the first is to take the HEXAGONE MMA lightweight belt. ” It’s a challenge he’s moving towards without stress and one that should give him the opportunity to put on a show on January 26, in front of an audience at the Zénith in Paris. “My entrances are really something! When I walk up to the cage, I always choose the soundtrack of a Japanese cartoon to accompany me, and that, too, is a big crowd-pleaser.” The appointment is made.