“I’m from the new school! At 23, Naim Naloufi is well aware that he’s part of a generation of modern fighters, trained by MMA before any other martial art. “It’s true that I like to work on English boxing, but I’m above all a well-rounded fighter, and I feel at ease everywhere,” explains the Frenchman of Tunisian origin. For him, combat sports began as a hobby, before finally becoming a passion. “After six months’ training, I was contacted to take part in my first amateur fight. And that’s when I really got into it. An unbalanced duel, against an opponent 10 kg heavier and more experienced, didn’t back away from him. Far from it. “It was new for me, I didn’t know what it felt like, but surprisingly, I wasn’t stressed, I felt good.

“I absolutely have to succeed”.

Fifteen appearances on the amateur circuit later, Naim Naloufi finally took the next step, joining HEXAGONE MMA, where he signed his first professional victory in March 2023. “I needed a new challenge, I didn’t have the desire or the drive. Now I’m going all out, I never do things by halves!” Precisely, the Parisian recently chose to quit his job, so that he could devote all his time to martial arts. “Working at the factory during the day and training at night is too tiring, and it reduces your progress. So, before my first professional fight, I decided to do things properly, and concentrate only on MMA. Now, I absolutely have to succeed, otherwise I’ll have to go back to work!” No plan B.