As far back as he can remember, Kevin Del has always dreamed of MMA: “I watched my first video tape in elementary school, and it was fascinating! But before stepping into the cage, the Frenchman carefully laid down his markers, accumulating experience in parallel disciplines: karate, full-contact, Thai boxing, jiu-jitsu… ” In fact, when I was young, I did what was on offer close to home. But my aim was to find the most complete sport possible, in order to get closer to MMA. The more punches allowed, the better! Now that he’s definitely made the transition to mixed martial arts, Kevin Del defines himself more as a purist, drawn more by the simple act of stepping into a cage than by the light attached to it. “I’ve never had a manager, and I’ve never had the ambition to have a professional career. It’s always been a bonus. If MMA had been legalized in France a long time ago, maybe I would have tried to devote myself fully to it. But it came too late.

“I took a long break to look after my daughter”.

So, at 36, he now juggles his family life, his professional life, and his life as a fighter. “I took a long break to look after my daughter, that’s what comes first!” The fact is, once in the spotlight, Kevin Del rarely disappoints, particularly on the ground, his area of choice. A brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he has acquired the majority of his victories in the cage by submission, the last of which took just over a minute. “I still think I’m a all-around fighter, there’s not a single area of MMA I fear. Besides, I don’t turn down any opponent, the more famous the guys, the better!” The next challenge promises to be a special one, since Kevin Del – originally from the Côte d’Or – will be fighting at home at HEXAGONE MMA 14, scheduled for February 10 2024 at the Palais des Sports in Dijon. A dream opportunity.