Former kickboxer Yousri Belgaroui is set to make his UFC debut on Dana White’s Contender Series. Read about his journey from kickboxing to MMA and his upcoming fight against Marco Tulio Silva.
| Key Points |
|---|
| Yousri Belgaroui, a former kickboxer, is set to make his UFC debut on Dana White’s Contender Series. |
| Belgaroui competed at middleweight in kickboxing and faced Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira multiple times in GLORY. |
| Belgaroui’s transition to MMA was influenced by his fights with Adesanya and Pereira, leading him to train with Pereira at Glover Teixeira’s gym. |
| Belgaroui made his MMA debut in 2021 and has collected two wins before focusing solely on MMA. |
| Belgaroui’s overall record stands at 5-2, earning him the opportunity to join the UFC. |
| Belgaroui will face Marco Tulio Silva in a middleweight bout on Dana White’s Contender Series. |
Former kickboxer Yousri Belgaroui, who fought Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira multiple times in GLORY, has been booked to fight on Dana White’s Contender Series. Belgaroui, also known as the "Baby Face Assassin", competed at middleweight during his kickboxing career and met Adesanya twice in his first three bouts for GLORY, with both of those fights ending in decision wins for the current UFC champion.
Belgaroui won a decision over Pereira in 2017 before being finished the next two times they met, but the impression both men left on each other eventually led to the Dutchman joining his rival at Glover Teixeira’s gym in Connecticut to embark on an MMA career. Belgaroui and Pereira now train together after fighting three times in kickboxing.
The 31-year-old made his MMA debut for UAE Warriors in 2021 and collected two wins before ending the year with one final kickboxing bout. However, since then, he has focused his efforts entirely on MMA. With a pair of stoppage wins last February, Belgaroui’s overall record stands at 5-2, which has earned him the opportunity to join the ranks of the UFC.
Belgaroui is scheduled to compete on Dana White’s Contender Series on August 29 against Marco Tulio Silva. Silva was initially set to face Val Woodburn but ended up facing Bo Nickal at UFC 290. Belgaroui’s last two fights were contested at light heavyweight, but he will meet Silva in a middleweight bout. Meanwhile, Belgaroui’s training partner Pereira is moving up to the light heavyweight division for a matchup with former champion Jan Błachowicz at UFC 291.
Fight Results
| Fighter | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Belgaroui | Adesanya | Decision Win |
| Belgaroui | Pereira | Decision Win |
In conclusion, Yousri Belgaroui, a former kickboxer, is set to make his UFC debut on Dana White’s Contender Series. After a successful kickboxing career, Belgaroui transitioned to MMA and has been training with his former rival, Alex Pereira. With an impressive record, Belgaroui has earned the chance to join the UFC and will face Marco Tulio Silva in a middleweight bout.
