“Before I started MMA, when I was doing my research to find a club, I would also find out about the good fighters. The funny thing is, over time, many of them became my training partners, and some are even friends now.” This anecdote, told with a smile, describes the nice career of 28-year-old Nacim Belhouachi, a pure product of the North of France exiled in Paris. Originally from Dunkirk, where he practiced judo for a long time before trying his hand at Thai boxing, the young man finally switched to MMA when he arrived in the capital, a “logical consequence” of his martial path. “At the time, in 2016, it was a trendy sport, and by practicing it, I found myself quite quickly in the competitive groups, which enabled me to evolve quickly.” Helped by his judo background, Nacim Belhouachi has built up a style based on ground control and ground and pound. But he assures us, “if my opponent wants to go to war, I’ll give him what he wants”.

“Stopping work is not a project”.

Lucid, the northerner doesn’t get carried away, and prefers to take the fights “one after the other”, without projecting himself too far ahead in his career. “Stopping work is not a project! There are a lot of doubts, and you need a spare wheel. Hers is a job as a nurse, with many nights on standby at the hospital. “Often, when I’m working nights, I stay up after my day, and go for a workout in the morning. Under these conditions, you have to be careful not to injure yourself through fatigue! It’s quite complicated to get organized, but it’s a choice, and I like it.” Nacim Belhouachi may be happy with his lifestyle, but he’s well aware that it’s likely to slow down his sporting progress. “Obviously, it’s going to be problematic in the long term. But that’s the way it is, you just have to accept it. He does so with a smile, and enjoys the situation: “my opponent, I’m going to hit him, and then look after him!”