Tahar Hadbi takes shots at Mohammed Fakhreddine On National Television

12 May 2022

The animosity between Mohammed Fakhreddine and Tahar Hadbi continues as the latter gets on national television provoking yet another fight against the current two-division world champion, Fakhreddine.

Hadbi had his last run-in with Fakhreddine at BRAVE CF 57 while the former was cornering Algeria’s Mohamad Said Maalem during the inaugural BRAVE CF Light Heavyweight World Championship held at Khalifa Sport City.

CANAL+ Afrique aired a segment where Hadbi spoke about the infamous brawl which required referee Aaron “Vanilla Gorilla” Wallace to manhandle Fakhreddine and his teammate back to their corner. 

“I was cornering [Mohamad Said Maalem] who was fighting Fakhreddine that night and since I already had a solution to beat him, [Maalem] came and asked for advice from me and so I was his corner during the fight week,” says Hadbi. “Maalem was very respectful.

He continued, “Once the fight finished and Fakhreddine won the belt, he came and provoked us at the corner and that is something I don’t really appreciate. Since the last time I faced him, we resolved all the rivalry which was between us and things were very respectful at the end. I wanted to end the war and that’s why after the fight, I went and hugged him so that we can forget about it all. I would have loved for the same thing to happen during this fight. Unfortunately, it wasn’t what he did. He instead came and provoked us and I lost it because I didn’t appreciate his attitude.”

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Hadbi faced Fakhreddine at BRAVE CF 9 in 2017; the fight ended in a no contest and sparked the biggest rivalry in the history of middle eastern mixed martial arts. The two met again at BRAVE CF 10 where Hadbi secured a knockout finish in the second round.

“I have fought [Fakhreddine] before and I beat him,” said Hadbi. “There was a huge rivalry between us and I finished him during our second fight. I have no doubt [that I can beat him]. I have confidence in myself and I agree with Taylor as he said, the vision of a champion is something that is real and created in certain fighters. As for me, I have the mentality and philosophy of a champion. When I enter the cage, I enter to finish my fight and put on a show to please my fans, myself and my team.”