Dutch-Moroccan MMA fighter Tyjani Beztati proudly represents both his Moroccan and Surinamese roots
Former kickboxing world champion turned MMA fighter Tyjani Beztati spoke about his roots in a post published on October 30. Born in the Netherlands, the 29-year-old fighter explained why he claims both countries without wanting to choose between them.
“Do you feel more Moroccan or Surinamese?” Tyjani Beztati is regularly asked this question. On Friday, October 30, the athlete chose to answer it on Facebook, sharing photos of himself with the flags of both countries. His message was brief: “Always proud to represent both,” reports Surinamese outlet Waterkant.
Born in Amsterdam on October 21, 1997, the fighter is the son of a Moroccan from Tétouan and a Surinamese mother. He grew up in the Netherlands, where he started kickboxing at the age of ten. In the ring, he chose to represent Morocco without giving up his other roots.
Last July, he had already told Dutch radio station FunX that he was proud of his three identities: Moroccan, Surinamese and Dutch. He spoke in particular about the support he had received from the Moroccan community throughout his career. He now hopes to help raise the profile of Moroccan fighters in another discipline.
Tyjani Beztati, nicknamed “The Wonderboy,” has completely changed sporting careers. Crowned GLORY lightweight world champion in 2021, he defended his title five times before leaving kickboxing in 2025 to take up mixed martial arts (MMA).
His new start has been impressive. In four professional MMA fights, the Moroccan has scored four wins, all before the end of the first round. On September 26, at Levels Fight League 24 in the Netherlands, he knocked out Poland’s Daniel Kolasinski with a knee strike after just 55 seconds.
In an interview published on October 30 by US outlet MMAmania, Beztati said he left GLORY after feeling he had exhausted the possibilities in his division. The move to MMA required him to learn wrestling and ground-fighting techniques, among other skills absent from kickboxing.
At 29, his next goal is to join the UFC, the world’s most prestigious MMA organization. He is considering competing in the Contender Series, which gives promising fighters the opportunity to earn a contract with the US organization.
