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Zakari El Jamari is just days away from making his debut in the world’s largest mixed martial arts organization. As he trains in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, ahead of his first ONE Championship fight, he is buzzing with excitement.
“I’m so happy and excited to be going to ONE 166. It means a lot to me because it’s a big fight event in an Arab country. I’m so proud to have joined ONE, it’s every fighter’s dream.
El Jamari will make his ONE debut at the organization’s first-ever fight event in Qatar. On March 1, the Moroccan will face Russia’s Ali Saldoev in a flyweight Muay Thai bout.
El Jamari is one of four Arab fighters on the highly anticipated card alongside Saudi Arabia’s Zuhayr Al-Qahtani, Yemen’s Osamah Almarwai and Algeria’s Mehdi Zatout. As the sole representative of Morocco, the Rabat-born fighter is a man on a mission.
“My goal is to represent my country, Morocco, in the best possible way. It means a lot to me. It will be a great motivation for my people,” he said.
Born in Rabat into a family that encouraged him and his two brothers to practice sports, El Jamari and his brother ElMehdi El Jamari eventually became professional fighters, with the latter becoming the WBC Muay Thai World Champion.
At 34, El Jamari has already established himself as a proven fighter in Muay Thai and kickboxing. He started boxing in 2000 and switched to Muay Thai five years later. He has won several competitions and medals at both amateur and professional levels, most notably becoming Arab Champion twice in Muay Thai and once in Kickboxing.
With a professional Muay Thai record of 4-1, El Jamari is aiming for his fifth victory inside the Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar, where his ambition is to “give the spectators excitement” and work towards his ultimate dream of winning world title belts in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
“I am watching Saldoev’s fights and I think I will beat him. My preparation is going very well and it’s very hard. What is my game plan? It will be a war.”
