Soon modern gladiators in the arenas of Metz? After a first successful success in the Saint Symphory complex, Fight and angry in octagon Lowned out in the arenas, Friday, February 7, 2025, for his second edition. With big names like Patrick Habirora, Yassine Houghanem et Karim GhajiThe gala wants to attract all martial arts in the region and more.
Amine ZitouniFormer European and French champion of Muay Thai and K1, and now an organizer of the FAF in Ocotgon is returning behind the scenes of the Tout-Metz event.
You organized the first FAF in OctoGon in the Saint Symphory complex last year. How do you judge that first?
We have organized events in kickboxing and Thai boxes for some time. We wanted to do MMA because it was authorized in 2020 and has grown a lot since then. We just said ourselves: Why not? We succeeded in us, especially with the Main event By Youssef Boughanem, a legend from Muay Thai, which converted to MMA. His first fight was with us in Metz.
To start this event, they needed a name, and there they had one of the biggest names that we could hope to see with a legend of martial arts. How did you manage to win him for Metz?
I’ve been a fighter before. Youssef and I rubbed their shoulders, we are part of the same generation. We popped together in Thailand. I have a certain network in terms of boxes and knowledge. I can easily put on the fighters I want. It was super easy with Youssef. I offered to fight in MMA for the first time. He was thrilled, he accepted.
And now this is a great step for this second edition if you go into the arenas from the Saint Symphorphistics complex?
It is of course a very nice step, yes. The first edition was a success. There were so many people who were missing in places. People even sat on the stairs, it was really full. There the arenas are a larger room with a much larger capacity, and the places are committed so that nobody is disappointed.
To fill them with the arenas, they need new big names, and there they found them this year. Who are you?
We brought three beautiful headliners back. Patrick Habirora in particular, a Belgian aspiring star that continues in MMA fights and victories. We also have Yassine Boughanem, Youssef’s brother. A few years ago he fought in MMA when he was quite strong and he is returning now after he lost almost 50 kilos. His return is Metz’s home. There is also Karim Ghajji, who fought last year and returns for this second edition.
Patrick Habirora marked the news with his KO at the Pfl. According to this outlier on social networks, with hundreds of thousands of views, it helps to make the event known beyond the city. Can this help to win Pariser, Strasbourg, Nancy?
Ja totally. Many people did not believe that we would manage to bring Patrick Habirora because he signed an exclusive contract with the PFL. But we negotiated with them so that he could do one One-shotA unique struggle with us and it was granted. So he will fight here on February 7th. People tend to disparage our events and say that we will never have great fighters. They prefer large organizations such as UFC, Pfl, KSW … but here in Metz we prove that we can do things. We bring big names back and will continue to do so. We have to support ourselves, support local organizations. I invite everyone to support this event.
Many fighters specialize on the map striking (Percussion Combat Sports). Can we expect spectacular fights?
We have a lot of strikers, it is true. Of course it is brought to the ground, but it was exactly the idea to build a tablet with an explosive fighter to offer the public a nice spectacle. We wanted to avoid profiles who try to rot.
MMA is a sport that is popular. But there are still many people who have never seen fighting personally, but only on TV. What are the differences when we personally experience an event of this kind?
TV is good, but we protect ourselves. You don’t feel the atmosphere of the room. Sitting next to the cage is completely different. We see everything ?: The fighters, the show around, feelings. It’s not just a fight, it’s a show, it’s always better to see her live. It is rare to take part in such events in our region. Most of the time it is in Paris or in large cities. We want to bring something new here. It is important that the people in the Grand Est from Lorraine support us to continue supporting us so that we can continue to organize these events.
How are sales? The aim is to fill the arenas?
Yes, our goal is to fill the arenas or 5,000 people. We are sold 900 places and there are three weeks before the event. It’s still space, but we work and we are confident.
What would you tell you if you are interested in MMA who are interested in MMA, but due to the sometimes violent image of this sport, hesitate to the ground in particular?
Boxing is a life hour, a way of life. There is self -confidence, it allows you to exceed yourself. It is the same for MMA. First we learn the basics, we are not thrown into a fight directly. The fighters welcome and share their knowledge. Over time, we also learn to take the strokes, they have to receive them to give them, it is like everyday life. It is a sport that urges you to exceed her limits. You shouldn’t be afraid.
And especially for those who believe that MMA is more violent than English boxes or Thai boxing, think about it again. The English boxing is actually more difficult. 90 % of the blows are brought into the head, which gives a lot of head trauma. At MMA, blows may seem impressive on the ground, but the effects are often much less important. Fighters do not have the same amplitude in their movements. And they don’t all end up with Ko, there are also submissions. It is a very complete technical sport and less violent than you think.
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