chargement...
Every time Mohammed Dahbi steps onto the podium, he makes sure the Moroccan flag stands alongside the Spanish one, representing the country where he grew up. For him, it is more than a sporting gesture, it is the continuation of a journey that began 27 years ago, when he left Oujda for Spain as a child, carrying little more than dreams that would grow year after year until they made him one of the world's leading kickboxing champions.
Today, at 33, Dahbi still vividly remembers the first gym he entered in his hometown of Oujda. His father, noticing his fascination with Bruce Lee films, took him to a local sports club, where he discovered combat sports for the first time. The experience was short-lived, however. At the age of six, his family moved to Tarragona, Spain. But migration did not interrupt his sporting journey, it gave it a new beginning.
In Tarragona, the young Moroccan returned to training and steadily progressed through the youth ranks until his passion became a daily commitment. Before long, he was competing professionally, driven by one ambition: to become a world champion.
Success in the ring and beyond
Pursuing that dream never came at the expense of his education. From an early age, Mohammed believed that sporting success alone was not enough and that education offered the best guarantee for the future.
«That's why I divided my day between studying and training», he told Yabiladi, explaining that balancing school and sport helped keep him focused, disciplined and away from negative influences.
The path was far from easy. To finance his studies, he worked several jobs, including as a security guard and in a clothing store, before completing university-level training in private security. He continued to build his career and now serves as the director of a residential center for minors in Spain that supports teenagers struggling with addiction and dual diagnosis, a combination of mental health disorders and substance abuse.
Despite his professional achievements, he is still considering returning to university to study law, believing that «the more a person learns, the more capable they become of improving themselves».
As he advanced professionally, success in the ring followed. In 2015, he won the Catalonia Kickboxing Championship. Two years later came the breakthrough that transformed his career: at the age of 23, he claimed his first world title at the WTFF World Championship in Switzerland.
That victory marked the beginning of an extraordinary run. In 2022, he captured both the WKL and INSHOCK world titles in France. A year later, he added the Enfusion x Metalbox Championship to his résumé before winning another world title at the AFSO Championship in Spain in 2024. Most recently, in 2026, he was crowned TFL world champion, bringing his tally to six world titles, alongside the Catalonia championship, after 53 professional fights.
His greatest dream: A royal reception
Despite everything he has achieved, Dahbi says kickboxing remains one of the toughest sports in the world, with every fight carrying the risk of serious injury.
«After injuries, I often ask myself whether it's worth all this pain, but I quickly find the answer. Kickboxing runs through my veins. I can stay away from many things, but I can't imagine my life away from the ring. In short, I'm obsessed with this sport».
Outside the ring, he says he has faced another challenge: overcoming the stereotypes often associated with Moroccans in Catalonia, where he grew up. Every title he wins, he explains, is also a message, that a Moroccan can be a world champion, a university graduate and the director of a social institution. He says he is proud to represent Morocco in a positive light alongside the many Moroccans who, in his words, «are changing those stereotypes every day».
.jpg)
After years of hard work and championship victories, one dream still remains.
«To be received by King Mohammed VI. That would be the greatest honor for me and my family after everything I have achieved inside and outside the ring».
Before ending the interview, Dahbi shared a message for young Moroccans, particularly those growing up abroad. He encouraged them to stay patient, hold on to their dreams and steer clear of drugs and anything that could jeopardize their future. He believes the best way to defend Morocco's image is through success and by representing the country with pride wherever Moroccans may be.
Fil Info
