From Olympics to MMA: The Journey of Mahmoud Sebie

21 June 2023

Mahmoud Sebie, the Super Lightweight standout and the first-ever Olympic athlete to compete in BRAVE CF, has opened up about how his mixed martial arts journey has reignited his passion for competition.

Known as "The Prince of Egypt," Sebie reached the pinnacle of his sporting career as a former Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler, representing his country at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016. While his love for wrestling remains strong, he describes his transition to MMA as a thrilling and unconventional adventure, cherishing every moment since his professional debut in 2021.

After the Olympics, Sebie faced some challenges back home, prompting him to shift his focus to training in the United States, where he currently resides.

“Wrestling was not exciting to me anymore. I wanted to do something that woke me up in the morning. I was involved in wrestling for more than 17 years, so I came to a point where I wanted to do something closely associated with wrestling but where I learned more. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t know everything in wrestling, nobody knows everything, but I wanted more of a challenge, and there's a wide variety of dynamics involved in this beautiful sport of mixed martial arts,” says Sebie

It was a difficult period for Sebie, and he contemplated retiring from sports altogether. However, deep down, he always recognized his inherent competitive spirit. He decided to stay active in wrestling while exploring other opportunities. During that time, he trained with Team USA's Olympic wrestling group. However, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck and the Tokyo Olympics faced delays, Sebie grew weary of the issues surrounding wrestling and made the difficult decision to step away.

Soon after, a friend persuaded him to venture into MMA, a suggestion he eventually embraced. Since transitioning, the 30-year-old "Prince of Egypt" has shown immense promise despite his limited cage experience, paving the way for a bright future in the sport.

“I feel like the man of the moment. Yes, the money is good, but it’s about more than money and fame. I have everything I need in my life. Like wrestling, MMA is about legacy and history for me, and that is what drives me. I just pray God protects me and keeps me on the right path as I am enjoying what I am doing,” added Sebie.

ALSO READ | BRAVE CF 71 Results: Solomanov books title shot with main event victory

What are your thoughts on his journey? Let us know in the comments below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BRAVE Combat Federation (@bravemmaf)