From Amsterdam to the UFC: The multifaceted career of Yousri Belgaroui
In short: Born in Amsterdam to a Tunisian father and Dutch mother, Yousri Belgaroui has transitioned from a high-level kickboxer in Glory to a mixed martial artist in the UFC. Beyond the cage, he holds a degree in Public Governance and Management and works as a commentator for Veronica TV.
Belgaroui's professional journey is defined by high-stakes competition across multiple disciplines. In kickboxing, he established himself as a premier middleweight, becoming a three-time Glory Middleweight Championship challenger. His success in the Glory organization included winning the 2017 Middleweight Contender Tournament by defeating Agron Preteni and Alex Pereira, the latter via unanimous decision. He previously faced Israel Adesanya in a tournament final, losing via split decision. He also secured a victory over Ariel Machado during the semi-finals of that same event.
His career has seen significant peaks and technical shifts. Between November 2021 and March 2022, Combat Press ranked him as a top ten middleweight, reaching as high as No. 2. His transition into mixed martial arts saw him compete in various promotions, including UAE Warriors, where he secured several victories via knockout or technical knockout. His early career included a notable victory over Jason Wilnis through a doctor's stoppage. He also managed to defeat Dawid Kasperski via a second-round technical knockout.
The fighter's resilience is evident in his recent UFC trajectory. After a loss at Dana White's Contender Series 60 in August 2023, he continued to compete, eventually securing a technical knockout victory against Azamat Bekoev in October 2025. His recent form includes a first-round technical knockout against Djorden Santos in September 2026, following the withdrawal of Kelvin Gastelum from their scheduled bout. His performance in the Contender Series was marked by a technical knockout win against Taiga Iwasaki. This victory occurred despite him receiving a point deduction for eye pokes.
Currently, Belgaroui competes in the UFC Middleweight division and holds the LFL Light Heavyweight Championship. His career demonstrates a rare blend of academic achievement and elite combat sports proficiency, moving from the Glory ring to the UFC octagon. He has also competed for the IRO European Middleweight Championship. Additionally, he has held the title of the 2017 Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament winner.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Yousri Belgaroui
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-yousri-belgaroui.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
