Pouya Rahmani says he plans to use his upcoming bout against Slim Trabelsi as a first step to what he hopes will be a shot at the PFL heavyweight championship.
The Dubai-based Iranian makes his promotional debut on October 3 when he faces the Tunisian on the undercard of the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch at Coca-Cola Arena.
Francis Ngannou holds the gold Rahmani desires. And while he has a few rungs to move up the ladder to make that showdown a reality, Rahmani is in determined mood.
“PFL have some of the best fighters in the world, and they’re all fighting for titles,” Rahmani said.
“My immediate goal is to win the PFL heavyweight title and this contest is the first step. Obviously, I have bigger goals. I intend to put this one away as quickly as possible and we’ll see what’s next that they bring to the table.”
A world champion in wrestling and grappling, mixed martial arts is 33-year-old Rahmani's latest foray into combat sports.
He heads into October's meeting, headlined by lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov's rematch against Paul Hughes, with detailed knowledge of his opponent and how to beat him.
In May, Rahmani overwhelmed Trabelsi to take a unanimous decision in a strictly grappling contest at Karate Combat 54.
October's meeting will be different, though, with both fighters pitting their MMA skills and undefeated records against one another.
Rahmani remains undefeated in four MMA pro bouts, while his 32-year-old opponent arrives with a perfect 8-0 record.
“Actually, it was the promotion [Karate Combat 54] that made this arrangement, in meeting this opponent, and my manager told me to accept this fight,” Rahmani told The National after his grappling win against Trabelsi five months ago.
“I wasn’t in great shape ahead of that fight as I had just recovered from a bicep surgery but I still came out on top. And this time I’m in good shape and better prepared."
Since that meeting with Trabelsi, Rahmani has added a gold medal to his collection by defeating Haisam Rida at the Abu Dhabi Grappling World Championships (under 125kgs) last month.
“Now I’m ready to defeat this guy again,” Rahmani said of Trabelsi. “PFL is the second biggest MMA promotion in the world ... I see every opponent in this promotion to be tough."
Trabelsi is an Olympic wrestler and has had four knockouts in his eight MMA appearances. He comes into the bout on the back of two wins in Bellator and a split decision over Englishman Abraham Bably in the PFL Mena Finals last November.
“I am not going to underestimate him from the outset of this fight," Rahmani said. "I am going to be fully focused. I am just thinking about finishing him.”
Standing at 188cm and weighing in at 120kgs, Rahmani claims he is the best grappler in the MMA world.
“People will soon see what I bring to the SmartCage,” he said. “I can do some things in grappling that no one else can do. It’s not only taking down opponents but how to have control over them.
“When I take someone down, it’s usually over. No one can move under me because I have perfected that art over the years."
Born in Iran, Rahmani has called Dubai home for the past four years. The Coca-Cola Arena is a mere stone's throw away from where he resides. He says with a cheeky smile that he wants to put on a show for his fans "at least for a few seconds”.
"I’m so excited. Dubai is my home. I’m competing at a venue only 10 minutes away from where I live.
“I have been waiting for a long time for this moment and the moment has come now for me to challenge for a world heavyweight title. This is only the beginning."
The years Ramadan fell in May
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MATCH INFO
What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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