The depression of a 9-5 office job eventually led me to my passion

When I was depressed in my boring IT job, I knew I had to do something about it – and that was following my passion into MMA.

I started with my career in IT but it wasn’t for me. It was an office job sitting in front of a computer and not interacting with people – I am more of a people person. Through not being happy I put on a lot of weight. I was working and studying at the same time to get by and wasn’t leading a healthy lifestyle. My blood pressure was an issue because of my weight, but that was a turning point. 

I spent a few years in the north of England in Sunderland, Newcastle and Durham studying – that’s why I have the accent I can’t seem to get rid of! I did my masters degree in IT Management at the University of Sunderland, and then worked for a few years in IT. I also worked in banking – that was supposed to be my career path, IT or finance.

I grew up in Morocco playing a lot of sport. I was a skinny fella until I went to the UK – I went from 73kg to 112kg in less than a year. That obviously wasn’t good for me. I wanted to get back into sport again, but no football team would accept me because of my weight. I  spotted a BJJ and MMA gym with a friend from uni. It was called The Dungeon BJJ and MMA and we started going just to get fit and lose some weight – and things started from there.

Life was going to be a boring 9-5 office job, programming, getting shouted at by a boss, crunching numbers, and all the stress that goes with it. That wasn’t for me. Growing up in Morocco there is a long list of amazing kickboxers and that really attracted me. I knew I had to do something about my life and decided to switch into martial arts just to feel good about myself. 

Martial arts helped me get my confidence back, become more balanced and happier. 

I owe so much to my parents, but they weren’t convinced about my switch to MMA

My biggest inspiration in life is my parents. From the way they brought us up and provided for us from nothing. They worked so hard to give us everything we wanted. I am so grateful for that.

My mum was teacher so was very strict. I spent a year studying in her class. Man, you should have seen some of the combos she threw at me – proper combinations – I think that prepared me for MMA! 

My parents did some martial arts when they were younger, and both know how to throw a punch – so studying under my mother wasn’t fun. 

We spent a lot of time, money, and effort to get my degree – to study and to work hard. I guess my parents would have preferred me to go down the IT route. I fought in MMA for three years without them knowing – they only found out through someone else which caused a lot of issues between me and them.