Younes Smaili Brutally Honest: “Glory Doesn’t Give Me Fights, I’m Moving to MMA!”

Wrestling

Taon2025

Panoorin Ngayon

0

Younes Smaili, the Dutch-Moroccan kickboxer from ARJ Gym, opens up like never before in this exclusive interview. After years of grinding, signing with Glory, and delivering spectacular performances, Smaili is facing growing frustration — lighter weight fighters, he says, don’t get the respect or the opportunities that heavyweights do. That’s why he’s seriously considering transitioning into MMA to stay active, stay relevant, and build the career he believes he deserves. In this video you’ll hear Younes talk about: • His journey from youth kickboxer in the Netherlands to a top lightweight in Glory.  • The heavy training, conditioning, and mental strength it takes at ARJ Gym under coach Maik Polanen.  • Why he feels lighter weights are ignored in Glory, and how that has shaped his mindset about fight frequency and his future. (He was preparing for an MMA debut originally slated for November but has decided to extend preparation.) • How he’s picking up wrestling, how quickly he’s adapting, and how he believes combining MMA & kickboxing will show what he’s truly capable of. • His aggressive, pressure-heavy style: punching, kicking, pushing forward, and choosing to fight in the pocket. • Comparisons and opinions about other fighters like Tijani Bestati and how moving between sports or combining them might be the way forward. Younes doesn’t shy away from hard truths: he’s not just fighting opponents, he’s fighting for chance, opportunity, identity, and respect. #honest #real #truth #morocco #fighter #kickboxer #glory #interview #mma #ufc