Sofiane Aïssaoui

{{Infobox martial artist

| name = Sofiane Aïssaoui

| other_names =The Lion

| image =Sofiane Aïssaoui 2020.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| alt =

| caption =Sofiane Aïssaoui thanking his public after winning the international title of the Arena Des Sacres in 2020.

| birth_name = Sofiane Aïssaoui

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|08|23}}

| birth_place = Revin, France

| death_date =

| death_place =

| death_cause =

| residence = Reims, France

| nationality = France

Algeria

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}

| weight = {{convert|182.6|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| weight_class = Welterweight

| reach_in =

| style =

| career =

| fighting_out_of = France

| team = Atch Academy
Lion Fight Gym

| rank =

| years_active = 2014–present

| mma_kowin = 1

| mma_subwin = 6

| mma_decwin = 3

| mma_koloss = 1

| mma_subloss = 2

| mma_decloss = 2

| mma_draw =

| mma_nc =

| url =

| sherdog = 201699

| footnotes =

| updated =

}}

Sofiane Aïssaoui (born August 23, 1991, in Revin) nicknamed "The Lion", is an Algerian-French mixed martial artist competing in the Welterweight division. A professional mixed martial artist since 2017, he was also a French champion of Pancrase.

Background

Sofiane Aïssaoui nicknamed "The Lion",{{Cite web|date=2020-01-28|title=Sports de combat (MMA). Rémois d'adoption, Aïssaoui est un " Lion " prêt à rugir|url=https://abonne.lunion.fr/id126790/article/2020-01-28/sports-de-combat-mma-remois-dadoption-aissaoui-est-un-lion-pret-rugir|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Journal L'Union abonné|language=fr}} was born on August 23, 1991, in Revin, his father is a leather worker named Smaïl and his mother who is a nurse named Malika. He has three brothers and a sister, and a daughter named Aliyah.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-10|title=Sofiane Aïssaoui, le Revinois champion de MMA : " Je suis un stratège, tout est déjà calculé, ficelé "|url=https://abonne.lardennais.fr/id248084/article/2021-04-10/sofiane-aissaoui-le-revinois-champion-de-mma-je-suis-un-stratege-tout-est-deja|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Journal L'Ardennais abonné|language=fr}}

Sofiane began training judo in 1995 at the age of 4 until the age of 22. Then he discovered MMA at the age of 23.{{Cite web|last=Brandon|date=2019-05-18|title=Faisons connaissance avec Sofiane Aïssaoui|url=https://www.mmartial.com/blog/2019/05/18/faisons-connaissance-avec-sofiane-aissaoui/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=MMArtial|language=fr-FR}}

Mixed martial arts career

As an amateur, he was selected for the French MMA team. He participated in the IMMAF amateur world championship in Las Vegas in July 2015{{Cite web|title=Journal L'Union|url=http://www.lunion.fr/art/499814/article/2015-06-30/un-remois-a-las-vegas-pour-un-sport-de-combat-interdit-en-france|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Journal L'Union|language=fr}} and the IMMAF European championship in Birmingham in November 2015.

From 2014 to 2016, he was a member of the French MMA team.

In 2016, he became WFC amateur MMA world champion in Milan, then Grappling world champion in May 2018, and won three French championship titles, two in Karate mix and one in Pancrace.{{Cite web|title=Le Rémois Sofiane Aïssaoui champion du monde de MMA|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/grand-est/marne/reims/remois-sofiane-aissaoui-champion-du-monde-mma-1124067.html|access-date=2021-12-03|website=France 3 Grand Est|language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web|title=Un champion du monde au club de karaté|url=https://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/indre-et-loire/commune/monts/un-champion-du-monde-au-club-de-karate|access-date=2021-12-03|website=lanouvellerepublique.fr}}{{Cite web|date=2017-07-04|title=Une CDF au-delà de toutes attentes !|url=https://www.ffkarate.fr/coupe-de-france-dela-de-toutes-attentes/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Fédération Française de Karaté|language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web|date=2018-06-08|title=Karaté Mix : richesses et promesses|url=https://www.ffkarate.fr/karate-mix-richesses-promesses/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Fédération Française de Karaté|language=fr-FR}}

In June 2016, he opened his martial arts and combat sports gym in Reims called Lion Fight Gym.{{Cite web|last=bardi.bayram|title=Sofiane Aissaoui {{!}} A.L Mental Success|url=https://www.almentalsuccess.com/sofiane-aissaoui/?lang=en|access-date=2021-12-03|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-03-02|title=Sports de combat.Aïssaoui a fait coup double à Reims lors de L'Arène des Sacres|url=https://abonne.lunion.fr/id135533/article/2020-03-02/sports-de-combataissaoui-fait-coup-double-reims-lors-de-larene-des-sacres|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Journal L'Union abonné|language=fr}}

In 2017, he won his first world belt.{{Cite web|title=Zoom sport. Portrait de l'ardennais Sofiane Aïssaoui, champion du monde de MMA|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/grand-est/marne/reims/zoom-sport-portrait-ardennais-sofiane-aissaoui-champion-du-monde-mma-1537990.html|access-date=2021-12-03|website=France 3 Grand Est|language=fr-FR}}

In 2019, according to the 100% FIGHT organization, Sofiane makes the best submission of the year against Dimitri Henry during the King of Fight.{{Cite web|last=Boxemag_official|date=2020-01-15|title=100% FIGHT – Retrouvez le Top 5 des meilleurs soumissions de 2019|url=https://boxemag.com/mma/mma-actualites/100-fight-retrouvez-le-top-5-des-meilleurs-soumissions-de-2019/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Boxemag.com|language=fr-FR}}

In 2020, he won the international title of Arena Des Sacres against Ruslan Heleshko.{{Cite web|date=2018-11-01|title=Sofiane Aïssaoui : " l'Arène des Sacres bénéficie d'une belle visibilité "|url=https://www.sportclub-reims.fr/2018/11/sofiane-aissaoui-larene-des-sacres-beneficie-dune-belle-visibilite/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Sport Club|language=fr-FR}}

In 2021, the Ministry of Sports rewards Sofiane Aïssaoui with the bronze medal, for his commitment to sports and associations.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-11|title=Originaire de Revin, Sofiane Aïssaoui récompensé par le ministère des Sports|url=https://www.lardennais.fr/id301811/article/2021-10-11/le-revinois-sofiane-aissaoui-recompense-par-le-ministere-des-sports|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Journal L'Ardennais abonné|language=fr}}{{Cite web|date=2019-01-25|title=Le champion du monde Sofiane Aissaoui entraine les jeunes Rémois|url=https://www.lunion.fr/id33786/article/2019-01-25/le-champion-du-monde-sofiane-aissaoui-entraine-les-jeunes-remois|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Journal L'Union|language=fr}}

Championships and achievements

French champion in Pancrase - amateur -
Twice French champion in Karate Mix -
European Champion in Luta Livre
World MMA Champion - amateur WFC (-77 kg)
WGMA World Grappling Champion (-77 kg)
Road to Contenders Champion{{Citation|title=Entrevue avec sofiane aissaoui (FFA) champion du road to contenders 7 en -77kg|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaNs5jm15sQ|language=en|access-date=2021-12-03}} - semi pro (-77 kg)
Champion of the Arena of Sacres (-77 kg)

Mixed martial arts record

{{MMArecordbox

|ko-wins=1

|sub-wins=6

|dec-wins=3

|ko-losses=1

|sub-losses=2

|dec-losses=2

}}

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|10–5

|Dragan Pesic

|Submission (guillotine choke)

|KCC 1

|{{dts|2023|May|13}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|0:20

|Dijon, France

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|9–5

|Maxim Soroka

|Decision (split)

|L'Arène de Sacres 3

|{{dts|2023|January|29}}

|align=center|3

|align=center|5:00

|Les Mazures, France

|{{small|Return to Welterweight. Defended the ADS Welterweight Championship.}}

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|8–5

|Frankie Rollandt

|Decision (unanimous)

|Fight Surpass 2

|{{dts|2022|September|24}}

|align=center|3

|align=center|5:00

|Roubaix, France

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|8–4

|Jean Dutriaux

|Submission (armbar)

|Hexagone MMA 3

|{{dts|2022|February|26}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|4:32

|Reims, France

|{{small|Middleweight debut.}}

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|7–4

|Said Elderbiev

|Submission (rear-naked choke)

|Road to ONE: MMA Live 8

|{{dts|2021|July|17}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|3:52

|Riesa, Germany

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|6–4

|Badreddine Diani

|TKO (punches)

|UAE Warriors 19

|{{dts|2021|June|18}}

|align=center|2

|align=center|1:27

|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center| 6–3

|Ruslan Heleshko

|KO (body kick)

|L'Arène de Sacres 3

|{{dts|2020|February|29}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|2:45

|Reims, France

|{{small|Won the vacant ADS Welterweight Championship.}}

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|5–3

| Dimitri Henri

|Submission (armbar)

|100% Fight 39

|{{dts|2019|April|20}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|1:10

|Paris, France

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|4–3

|Romain Debienne

|Submission (armbar)

|L'Arène des Sacres 1

|{{dts|2018|February|03}}

|align=center|2

|align=center|3:45

|Reims, France

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|3–3

|Walid Laidi

|Decision (unanimous)

| 100% Fight 33

|{{dts|2018|January|18}}

|align=center|2

|align=center|5:00

|Paris, France

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|3–2

|Said Al Hamid

|Submission (armbar)

|100% Fight 32

|{{dts|2017|November|25}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|1:29

|Paris, France

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|2–2

|Sami Kodass

| Decision (unanimous)

|Next Level 2

|{{dts|2017|October|28}}

|align=center|2

|align=center|5

|Mantes-la-Ville, France

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|1–2

|Romain Bidet

|Submission (ankle lock)

|KOC: Prestige Edition

|{{dts|2017|February|11}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|2:19

|Bordeaux, France

|{{no2}}Loss

|align=center|1–1

|Abdoul Abdouraguimov

|Submission (rear-naked choke)

|rowspan=2|100% Fight: Contenders 33

|rowspan=2|{{dts|2016|November|26}}

|align=center|1

|align=center|2:21

|rowspan=2|Paris, France

|{{small|100% Fight Welterweight Tournament Final.}}

|{{yes2}}Win

|align=center|1–0

|Uriel Loutina

|Decision (unanimous)

|align=center|2

|align=center|5:00

|{{small|Welterweight debut. 100% Fight Welterweight Tournament Semifinal.}}

{{Cite web|last=Sherdog.com|title=Sofiane Aïssaoui on Sherdog|url=https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Sofiane-Aissaoui-201699|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Sherdog}}