Immersed in the world of martial arts since childhood, Alexis Fontes has always competed at the highest level. Judo, grappling, MMA… Whatever the discipline, he’s experienced the elite and the big events. “My favourite sport is judo. I started at the age of three, and by hard work, I was able to join the French team. I’ve taken part in several international tournaments, and I’ve even trained with Teddy Riner!” But in 2015, this little world fell apart: the victim of a cruciate knee ligament rupture, Alexis Fontes preferred to change his path to move forward again. “Youth had taken its toll, I was no longer enjoying myself, and I needed new challenges. So, the Rémois native tried his hand at grappling… The result: an exceptional first season, with three podium finishes at the French, European and world championships. A real success.

“My floor is a strong point, no question about it”

But today, despite a well-stocked trophy cabinet, the grappling parenthesis is definitively closed. At the age of 32, Alexis Fontes has chosen to devote himself fully to MMA, to shine in a third different discipline. For all that, the Rémois fighter hasn’t reinvented himself. A grappler specialist, he’s managed to transfer his skills to the cage and is now racking up submission wins with ease. Evidence indeed that 100% of his successes have come in the first round – unbelievable! “My grappling is a strong point, that’s for sure, but it’s not yet totally adapted to MMA. I’ve done 24 years of judo, so I’ve got some reflexes ingrained in me that I need to develop.” There’s plenty of room for improvement, and Alexis Fontes has no intention of stopping there, as MMA is now at the center of his life. “In addition to my fighting career, I now manage an 800 m² training room in Reims. It takes up a lot of my time, but I work hard. After the frustrating result of my last fight, I need to take revenge. I’m here to break everything!