(Video) “Armored” storms Las Vegas: the revenge of a wrestler who became king of African MMA

A few years ago, Adama Diop aka “Blinté” wore the wrestler’s boubou and dreamed of a traditional arena. Today, he is preparing to step into the octagon of Dana White’s Contender Series on September 29, 2026 in Las Vegas, against the undefeated Russian Zaurbek Sabanov (5 wins in 5 matches). In the meantime, “Blinté” has left everything, risked everything and won everything: double world champion in less than a year, crowned at the Hexagon MMA then at the EFC in South Africa, congratulated even by the President of the Republic. In this truth interview, the Senegalese fighter looks back on his metamorphosis: the break with wrestling, the sporting exile, the choices, the victories and this obsession which now inhabits him: the UFC. Portrait of a man who made his nickname an armor, and each fight a step towards history.

PLFAYE, A. FALL, OB NDONGO