UFC must invest in fighting talent of Middle East, North Africa | Opinion

With the UFC continuing to strengthen its ties with Abu Dhabi, it’s time promotion officials started taking a closer look at the fighting talent in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Mounir Lazzez, the first born-and-bred Arab fighter to ever get signed to the UFC, made his successful debut on July 15 with an impressive showing against the highly-touted Abdul Razak Alhassan.

But Lazzez’s signing was not a result of the UFC scouting talent from the region. It was a chance encounter, when a 17-year-old friend of Dana White’s son approached the UFC president with a highlight-reel video of Lazzez, urging White to sign him.

White contacted the matchmakers, who offered Lazzez (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) a main card spot on UFC on ESPN 13, but he was handed no favors when he was matched up with knockout artist Alhassan.

Tunisia’s Lazzez is a decorated striker who trains out of Team Nogueira in Dubai. He has spent his entire MMA career fighting all across the region’s top promotions such as Desert Force, BRAVE CF and UAE Warriors.

He was able to display incredible standup skills, composure, cardio and fight IQ to contain Alhassan’s early barrage and take control of the contest. Right after the fight, Lazzez capitalized on his big win by calling out Mike Perry in the post-fight interview.

Lazzez’s win was instrumental for the region because it proved that there is high-level talent to be discovered. A lot of the region’s fighters have been chomping at the bit for their opportunity and Lazzez has given them that hope. His stunning performance put the region on the map.

The entire Middle East area is no stranger to hosting MMA events, with many fighters from all over the world having competed in Jordan, for instance, under the Cage Warriors, Desert Force and BRAVE CF banner.

The likes of former UFC-dual champ Conor McGregor, Sodiq Yusuff, Arnold Allen, Jack Hermansson and super prospect Khamzat Chimaev have all competed in Jordan in the past.

Jordan is also home to BRAVE CF’s welterweight champion Jarrah Al-Selawe, who’s won nine of his last 10 and is highly regarded as one of the best talents to ever come out of the region. Having recently turned 27, Al-Selawe is only just coming into his prime.

It’s just a matter of giving these fighters an opportunity, and with the UFC projected to return to Abu Dhabi at least one more time before the end of the year, it’s time matchmakers increased their scouting on fighters from the region.

If not a direct signing, doors should at least be opened in the form of “The Ultimate Fighter” or Dana White’s Contender Series, as many of the region’s top talents have moved their training over to the U.S.

White’s “Lookin’ for a Fight” is also another option, since fighters such as Chimaev, Amir Albazi, Khalid Taha and Ottman Azaitar all last competed for BRAVE CF in the Middle East, before getting signed to the UFC.

The region’s interest in the sport is at an all-time high, and there’s no better time for the UFC to tap into market and capitalize on signing some fighters because the talent is certainly there.