Yousri Belgaroui

Yousri Belgaroui (born 2 June 1992) is a Tunisian-Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In kickboxing, he has competed in Glory, where he is a three-time Glory Middleweight Championship challenger.

He was ranked as a top ten middleweight by Combat Press between November 2021 and March 2022, peaking at No. 2

Personal life Belgaroui was born in Amsterdam to a Tunisian father and a Dutch mother. He holds a degree in Public Governance and Management from the University of Amsterdam. He works as a commentator for Veronica TV.

Kickboxing career In 2016 Belgaroui entered the Glory Middleweight Contender's Tournament, held at Glory 34: Denver on October 21, 2016. In the semi-finals, he won a unanimous decision over Ariel Machado, but lost a split decision to Israel Adesanya in the tournament finals.

Yousri entered the 2017 Middleweight Contender Tournament as well, which was held at Glory 40: Copenhagen on April 29, 2017, and was booked to face Agron Preteni in the semifinals. He beat Preteni by a unanimous decision, and faced the future champion Alex Pereira in the tournament finals. Belgaroui won the fight by a unanimous decision.

After his tournament win, Yousri faced Jason Wilnis at Glory 45: Amsterdam on July 30, 2017. He won in the first round due to doctor's stoppage.

Belgaroui challenged Alex Pereira for the Glory Middleweight Championship at Glory 49: Rotterdam on December 9, 2017. Pereira won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.

In his next match, at Glory 53: Lille on May 12, 2018, Belgaroui beat Dawid Kasperski by a second-round technical knockout. This earned him the chance to once again fight for the Glory Middleweight Championship, as he was scheduled to face Pereira at Glory 55: New York on July 20, 2018. Pereira won the fight by a first-round knockout.

Belgaroui bounced back with a first-round knockout of Yassine Ahaggan at Glory 60: Lyon on October 20, 2018, but would lose a unanimous decision to Donovan Wisse at Glory 65: Utrecht on May 17, 2019, in his very next fight. Yousri won his next fights against Ulric Bokeme at Glory 69: Düsseldorf by unanimous decision, and against Jakob Styben at Glory 75: Utrecht by a second-round technical knockout.

Belgaroui was scheduled to fight Donovan Wisse at Glory 78: Rotterdam on September 4, 2021, for the vacant Glory Middleweight Championship. He lost the fight by a third-round technical knockout.

Mixed martial arts career Belgaroui made his MMA debut at UAE Warriors, being scheduled to fight Badreddine Diani. He won the fight by a unanimous decision. He was next scheduled to fight Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi at UAE Warriors 17, three months after his professional debut. He won the fight by knockout in the first round.

Belgaroui was expected to face Mohamad Osseili at UAE Warriors 23: Arabia 5 on August 28, 2021. The fight was later cancelled for undisclosed reasons. Belgaroui was booked to face Ahmed Sami at UAE Warriors 25: Africa on February 25, 2022. He lost the fight by split decision.

Belgaroui was booked to face Samir Zaidi at UAE Warriors 27 on March 25, 2022. He won the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round. Belgaroui faced Mohamad Osseili at UAE Warriors 31 on July 3, 2022, in his second fight of the year. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Belgaroui faced Bogdan Kotlovyanov at Levels Fight League 7 on February 5, 2023. He won the fight by a first-round knockout.

Less than a month later, Belgaroui faced Stefan Pretorius on February 24, 2023, at UAE Warriors 35, winning the bout via TKO stoppage in the second round.

Belgaroui faced Marco Tulio on August 29, 2023 at Dana White's Contender Series 60. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Belgaroui was scheduled to face Nathias Frederick in a light heavyweight bout at LFL 10 on October 29, 2023. However, Frederick withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Giorgi Kvelidze. Belgaroui won the fight via TKO in round one.

Dana White's Contender Series Belgaroui, replacing Val Woodburn, faced Marco Tulio on August 29, 2023 at Dana White's Contender Series season 7. He lost the fight via unanimous decision

Belgaroui faced Taiga Iwasaki on Dana White's Contender Series 71 on September 10, 2024. After being deducted one point in round two for multiple eye pokes, he was able to win the fight via technical knockout in round three. Despite this, he was not given a contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Replacing Torrez Finney who withdrew for unknown reasons, Belgaroui was scheduled to make his UFC debut against former LFA Middleweight Champion Azamat Bekoev on August 2, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 71. In turn, as a result of Belgaroui not being able to get a visa in time, the bout was postponed to UFC Fight Night 262 which took place on October 18, 2025. Belgaroui won the fight by technical knockout in the third round.

Belgaroui faced undefeated prospect Mansur Abdul-Malik on March 28, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 271. He won the fight via technical knockout in the third round.

Belgaroui was scheduled to face Kelvin Gastelum on September 12, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 288. However, Gastelum pulled out on August 13 and was replaced by Djorden Santos.

Championships and awards

Mixed martial arts Levels Fight League LFL Light Heavyweight Championship (one time, current)

Kickboxing Glory 2017 Glory Middleweight (-85 kg/187.4 lb) Contender Tournament winner International Ringsports Organisation IRO European Middleweight (-86 kg) Championship

Mixed martial arts record Win

Mansur Abdul-Malik TKO (knee) UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer

Seattle, Washington, United States Win

Azamat Bekoev TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Win

Taiga Iwasaki TKO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 71

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ahmed Sami Decision (unanimous) Levels Fight League 11

Amsterdam, Netherlands Win

Giorgi Kvelidze TKO (knee to the body and punches) Levels Fight League 10

Amsterdam, Netherlands Loss

Marco Tulio Decision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series 60

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Stefan Pretorius TKO (knee and punches) UAE Warriors 35

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Bogdan Kotlovyanov KO (punch to the body) Levels Fight League 7

Amsterdam, Netherlands Loss

Mohamad Osseili Decision (unanimous) UAE Warriors 31

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Samir Zaidi TKO (punches) UAE Warriors 27

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Ahmed Sami Decision (split) UAE Warriors 25

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi TKO (head kick and punches) UAE Warriors 17

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Badreddine Diani Decision (unanimous) UAE Warriors 16

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Kickboxing record

2016-05-25 Win

Enfusion Live Presents Push It To The Limit Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (punches) 2 0:56

2016-03-05 Win

Fight League, The Battle Hoofddorp, Netherlands KO (knee) 1 1:12

2016-02-07 Win

Back To The Oldschool Amsterdam, Netherlands KO (punches) 3 1:15

2015-11-28 Win

Enfusion Live Presents Fightsense The Hague, Netherlands KO (body knee) 1 2:03

2015-10-24 Win

IRO European Championship Drachten, Netherlands KO (body knee) 1 0:31

2015-09-26 Win

Back To The Oldschool Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision 3 3:00

2015-05-24 Win

Kickboxing Talents 10 Amsterdam, Netherlands Decision 3 3:00

2015-04-18 Win

Enfusion Live #27 Tenerife, Spain Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00

2015-04-04 Win

Enfusion Talents #8 The Hague, Netherlands TKO (doctor stoppage) 1