Dubai's Mounir Lazzez during the weigh-in. - Supplied photo
Abu Dhabi - The Tunisian expat, living in Dubai for close to nine years, makes his UFC bow against Abdul Razak Al Hassan on Thursday
Published: Wed 15 Jul 2020, 9:53 PM
Updated: Thu 16 Jul 2020, 12:03 AM
The UFC Fight Island is bringing athletes from different corners of the world to Abu Dhabi. And local boy Mounir Lazzez - a Tunisian expat living in Dubai for close to nine years - could not have hoped for a better start to his UFC career.
The 32-year-old fighter is set for the UFC debut in the welterweight division of the Fight Night on Thursday. Lazzez will feature in the opening fight of the main card against Abdul Razak Al Hassan.
How Lazzez landed this opportunity is quite a story. Adam, his friend, saw UFC president Dana White at a restaurant in Las Vegas and showed Lazzez's highlight-reel footage. White was impressed and signed him immediately.
"He saw my highlight-reel, followed me on social media, and put me in contact with UFC matchmaker Sean Selby. He offered me a direct fight," he said.
"Everything happens for a reason in the right time and moment. So whatever you want to call it, hard work or luck, I'm here."
Even though he will be walking out to an empty arena, Lazzez can't wait for the moment.
"I was always visualising the walk to the octagon in Las Vegas. But this is my door-step here. I have lived in Dubai for nine years and this is a proud moment for me to make it here in Fight Island. This is the safest zone created for us by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi. I'm super excited for that."
He had two weeks of quarantine in his Dubai gym and 48 hours in the Fight Island. Lazzez said he has no local advantage.
"But I am happy to have this opportunity. Sometimes we are waiting for the perfect moment but there is never a perfect moment, there is just the opportunity, it comes and you grab it, and that's what has exactly happened in my case."
Lazzez is excited to have a tough opponent in Al Hassan at 10 knockout-1 loss record.
"He's a well-rounded fighter. He's someone who brings the show and that's exactly what I want. I don't want an easy contest.
"I never predict the future. It's always the performance on that night, everything can happen, but what I bring to the table is a lot of violence, calm and smart to deliver the best result that I have trained for," warned the 'Sniper' Lazzez, who is 9-1 pro himself.
He has adjusted during the training camp for the early morning fight.
"I adapt mentally always in every situation. You can put me in a seven-star hotel or put me down to the bridge to sleep. I would be more than happy. I'm not here just to make it to the UFC. I'm coming to make my UFC career successful. This is the goal."
Lazzez isn't nervous ahead of the fight and said: "I got nervous during other fights before but I don't know, I'm super calm and chilled."
Lazzez is sure that one day he will be the main event of the UFC.
"That's the dream. I'm sure the UFC didn't come for me this time. But make no mistake, they're going to come for me in Dubai."
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