As a student nurse, Younes Bouhassoun aspires, on a daily basis, to cure and protect people. But once in the cage, the objective is quite different – “to hurt” his opponent, which is seemingly paradoxical.

“I have always loved helping others, “ he says. “Originally, I wanted to be a doctor, but I didn’t achieve the required grades.”
So, today at 27 years old, his life is divided between his college classes, an internship and training in Poitiers, his native town. Obsessed with fighting, Younes Bouhassoun does not let himself rest : “My passion is MMA. I don’t have time for other activities. When I have a break, the first thing I do is sleep! And if I have a little more time, I watch fights to analyze them and improve myself. MMA is really for me.”

“I wasn’t always a great sportsman”

Yet, his discovery of mixed martial arts came late:

“I started at 22, I was not always a great sportsman”, he admitted. After taking first “footsteps in the neighborhood” and a period of weight training, Younes Bouhassoun finally found his way. And he intends to follow it 100%. “My objective is to validate my diploma for job security. Then, I would really like to devote myself to MMA.”

If he knows that a professional MMA career includes its share of uncertainties, between injuries, bad luck and bad decisions, this does not hold him back. “It’s a challenge, but I intend to see it through.”