“They should have started the machine a long time ago.
But here things like that sometimes take a long time.
“A year ago, the world of MMA woke up in France, finally legal and placed under the aegis of the French Boxing Federation.
A small revolution for this discipline practiced in an octagon and with a bad reputation, where beyond the Atlantic, it is one of the most popular sports.
Now in motion, the mechanics need gondola heads to take on board a French public that asks only to get carried away, especially young people who represent a huge pool of practitioners.
A role assumed by “IbraTV”, named after Ibrahim Tsetchoev's YouTube channel, creator of content on this essential media for 15-30 year olds.
This 28-year-old Chechen, survivor of the military conflict between his country and Russia twenty years ago, arrived in France “in 2006, with (his) family”.
Since then, the guy with the imposing physique (1.87 m, 100 kg) has established himself in the media landscape, carried by his extreme videos which have popularized him with Internet users.
IbraTV - nothing to do with Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic - is 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube now.
YouTube, a powerful medium for young people
“When I started, I always posted content that was faithful to what I liked: the adrenaline, the extreme side, things that allow me to push my limits,” he recalls from one of his restaurants in Parisian burgers.
Then emerged from Ibrahim's mind several ideas for videos, shot with a hidden camera.
We see him trapping racketeers (8.4 million views), stealing from dealers (7.5 million) or even confusing a pedophile (6.5 million).
Sequences that its author qualifies as “social experiences” because they aim to expose the reaction of passers-by to certain moral situations.
Themes - although subject to criticism - that hit the mark, never seen in France.
And which allow its notoriety to explode in a few months, its number of subscribers with.
“I analyzed the French YouTube.
People came to seek sensations they did not know.
He rushes into the breach.
Once his notoriety too important, and his face more widely recognized, the videographer actor must innovate, place his eggs in another basket.
Then came the idea of content around MMA.
“I have been involved in combat sports since I was little, so I really went for it.
Today I have the second most viewed account in the world after the UFC (World's # 1 MMA Organization).
I always like to take risks, and bring things that were not there before.
“And for good reason: the practice of MMA is then still prohibited in France.
While IbraTV launches into the organization and broadcasting of fights, the general public is not yet really aware of this discipline, which would bring together more than 70,000 practitioners in France.
Create your own organization, your "dream"
The potential is there, but the practice was still done under the radar, with French fighters forced to export their talent outside our borders (Belgium, Germany, United States).
“Without wanting to throw flowers at me, I believe that I have helped the development of MMA in France thanks to my YouTube channel, loose the one who lives thanks to his chain… of restoration which should reach the thirty-six establishments here end of 2021. Especially with the general public.
Young people mainly, followers of the flagship social network of videos, flock to its content.
To the point of making this martial art one day the equal of basketball or hand in terms of licensees?
"MMA can even go tickle football," he says.
I know how fast it went to the US.
The government just needs to invest in it, and support this sport.
There is still a long way to go.
"
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We attended the first official MMA fights in France
Propelled, a little in spite of himself, French ambassador of MMA, forged by his chaotic journey from Chechnya, the adopted Parisian has an overflowing ambition, ideas.
He has wanted for a few months to create an official organization, "a bit like the UFC", which would be his "dream".
An organization that would allow him to escape the amateur side, and organize professional fights mediated and in front of the public.
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“I have often been approached to organize big events. But I'm waiting, I want to work with the right people, I already have some knowledge with the Boxing Federation, he claims. Sooner or later, I will contact them to set all this up, since I am legally obliged to go through them. Why not work with the Bellator too (second international organization behind the UFC), I highly esteem them. In any case, I brought a lot of visibility to this sport and I amused people, so I fulfilled my mission. That's my biggest satisfaction. »Before seeing even bigger? Ibra is not afraid of anything.
