Crowned world champion in December 2025 and successful in defending his title in July 2026, Assli reflects on the defining moments of his career and the challenges he has faced. He also discusses what sets Karate Combat apart, the differences between his two title fights and his ambitions ahead of the event scheduled for January 5, 2027, in Casablanca.
Asked how Karate Combat differs from traditional karate and MMA, Assli explains: “When people hear the word karate, they think of traditional karate, with simple kicks and punches, a sport that isn’t particularly dangerous. Yet today, it is one of the most dangerous and violent combat sports in the world.”
He also describes what he enjoys most about the discipline: “What I love about this sport is ground fighting. You can take your opponent to the ground and keep fighting. The only difference with MMA is submission. There are no submissions, only strikes.”
Looking back at his journey, the Moroccan fighter recalls starting out in Thailand before continuing his career in the United States, where he recorded seven wins in seven fights, five of them in the first round.
“We started in Thailand before moving on to the United States, where I had seven fights with the organization and won all seven, including five in the first round. That whole journey brought us to this point,” he said.
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In December 2025, Assli won his first world title against Australian fighter James Honey. He defended the belt in July 2026 against Brazil’s Lucas Martins, knocking him out in the first round.
Reflecting on the two title fights, the two-time world champion said every bout presents a new challenge. “Honestly, there’s no choice to make. A fight is a fight, and a title is a title. The title is just a status. When you step into the ring, it’s a new fight. There’s another man standing in front of you, and you simply have to knock him out.”
He also highlighted the differences between his opponents: “Against James, the fight lasted five rounds, and the audience really enjoyed it. Those were five rounds of very high-level striking. For my fight against Lucas Martins, I knew I couldn’t take the same risks. He’s a very dangerous opponent, a former MMA champion who is especially formidable at close range.”
Beyond his performances in the ring, Assli says one of the biggest challenges of his career has been resisting the comfort of everyday life.
“The biggest challenge for me has been fighting comfort. When you start living comfortably, especially in Dubai, you tell yourself you don’t necessarily need to keep doing all this. For me, the hardest part was fighting that comfort. I decided to keep going because I love this sport,” he explained.
Assli also announced that Karate Combat will hold an event in Morocco on January 5, 2027, in Casablanca. He hopes to compete in front of his fans, family and friends.
“It’s always a different feeling to fight in front of your friends and family, in the city where you grew up and were born. I expect support from Casablanca, but also from all of Morocco. On January 5, Karate Combat will be in Morocco,” he said.
As for his future ambitions, the Moroccan champion prefers to take things step by step while keeping his sights set on major goals.
“You have to set a goal, even if it seems very far away, and then move forward one step at a time. You have to be patient, keep your faith in God and stay on your path. As for our future plans, we have some very exciting things in the works,” he said.
Assli also had a message for young Moroccans interested in combat sports, stressing the importance of discipline and self-confidence.
“My advice to all young people is to learn how to fight. Whether you want to pursue a career in combat sports or not, it’s something you should learn from an early age. Combat sports teach you a great deal of discipline. They teach you to be rigorous in your life, overcome difficulties and, above all, believe in yourself,” he concluded.
