Diaspo #45 : Rizlen Zouak, Morocco's first female mixed martial arts fighter

Rizlen Zouak has built herself an atypical career. The Beaune-native went from Judo to mixed martial arts (MMA), looking for new challenges. The young woman won 7 World championship medals in Judo and was awarded in several continental competitions. Then overnight, the 32-year-old sportswoman put Judo aside to start her MMA adventure.

«Two years after the 2012 Summer Olympics, I saw an MMA training session and I said to myself that after playing Judo for so many years, after the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, I will start MMA. Judo was more fun but I was a little fed up with it, so I wanted a change», Rizlen Zouak told Yabiladi.

Representing Morocco

Before fighting for Morocco, the 32-year-old woman represented France for more than 10 years. Her father has always encouraged her to join the Moroccan team. «When I was a member of the French Judo team, I was number 3 and I knew I was not going to play in the Olympics with France. I am lucky that I have dual citizenship and I decided to change my sports allegiance and play for Morocco», the former judoka told Yabiladi.

In 2011, the young woman arrived in the Kingdom and started from scratch, «ten months before the London Summer Olympics and I managed to qualify while, usually, people need four years to do something similar».

In 2006, Rizlen Zouak did everything it took to win. «I was between life and death, I lost 11 kilos in three days and it slowed my career down. I got back on track, I had no muscles but I kept fighting and did not give up», she recalls.

A fighter's grit

Rizlen Zouak says she has been driven by the desire of becoming a champion forever. «I started Judo when I was 16 years old then I joined the French team. I became a member of France's junior Judo team», she said.

A successful career that Rizlen can be proud of forever. But that does not prevent her from following her dreams and ambitions. The athlete wants to highlight feminine MMA in Morocco and show that «we too can be there and make our own place».

For Rizlen, Morocco deserves to show to the world «its great athletes who have great potential».