Born to fight
Born in Aleppo, Syria, Michael started combat sports at 2 and a half years old. By age 11, he was Arab World Champion in Kung Fu. He arrived in France at 15 without speaking a word of French, earned his science baccalaureate in three years and started MMA at Old School Academy in 2017.
Pro since 2020, he has racked up 13 wins in 18 fights with a 77% finish rate. Seven KOs, three submissions. He has won belts in 100% Fight, MMA GP and Hexagone MMA. Ranked #1 in France, top 5 in Europe in his division.
In 2026, he signed with the UFC. First fight on September 5 at the Accor Arena in Paris against Fabia Sintes (11-3).
View record
Media
UFC Paris 5 : La Sueur
Aljarouj vs Nobre, KO R1
"IMMORTEL" le film
The journey
Before MMA, there was war. In Aleppo, napalm barrels dropped on civilian neighborhoods. On the road to Lebanon, ISIS stopped his family's bus. At 14, he fought off a kidnapping attempt outside his church.
He arrived in France at 15 without speaking a word of French and earned his science baccalaureate in three years. He walked through the doors of Old School Academy in 2017 and never looked back.
From his first Kung Fu class in Aleppo to signing with the UFC. The complete timeline with every fight, every belt, every milestone.
Full journey
Old School Academy
Villecresnes, Val-de-Marne
More than an MMA gym. Founded by Gaetan Hurtel, Old School Academy builds its fighters from scratch in a family spirit. No transfers, no mercato. Raw talents turned into champions.
Michael arrived in 2017 without knowing how to box or wrestle. Gaetan built him from zero: boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, physical and mental preparation.
"He's like a father to me." When Michael found out his wife was pregnant, Gaetan was the first person he called, before his own parents.
oldschoolacademy.fr →