Algeria’s Youcef Esaad is set to make his debut in ONE Championship’s weekly fight series, ONE Friday Fights, this Friday September 27.
Esaad faces another promotional newcomer in Japan’s HyuIwata in a Flyweight Kickboxing matchup at ONE Friday Fights 81: Superbon vs Nattawut, which kicks off at 3:30 PM Mecca and will be broadcast live via beIN SPORTS.
Ahead of Esaad’s big debut, here are five facts about the Algerian fighter.
1. He Comes from a Humble Background
Born in the Algerian capital of Algiers in 2002, he is the eldest of three siblings. While his father worked hard to put food on the table, his mother was a housewife and took good care of her children.
2. He Followed His Dreams and Faced Adversity with Courage
The fact that Esaad’s family did not have the capabilities to support his journey in martial arts on a financial level never deterred the young Algerian.
Instead, Esaad chose the path to become the first professional martial artist in his family, putting in long hours of training while also studying and working on the side.
His hard work ultimately paid off: Esaad graduated with a BA from the Institut Supérieur Gestion (ISG) and became a successful professional martial artist.
3. He Started Muay Thai Training Early in His Life
Esaad took interest in Muay Thai at an early age, starting his practice sessions at the age of 11. Since then, he has focused all his energy in mastering Muay Thai and Kickboxing, moving to train at the Muay Thai Academy (MTA).
Although he has a diverse skillset, Esaad lists his wide range of kicks as his main strength through which he dissects opponents, stops them from pressing forward, and starts his own attacks.
4. He Already Has a Good Professional Record
At 22, Esaad has fought in several countries including Algeria, Tunisia, Cambodia, and Thailand. He owns an overall lifetime record of 10-2 and a professional record of 7-1 in Muay Thai and Kickboxing.
5. His Lifelong Dream Was to Join ONE Championship
Asked about what joining ONE Championship meant to him, Esaad could not hide his delight at finally achieving what he calls a “lifelong dream” to fight at the martial arts organization.
“Joining ONE Championship has been a lifelong dream. Since I began training, I have been putting everything I had to fight in ONE Championship. My ambition is to become a world champion,” he said.
