Alex Lohore is looking forward to representing the UK this weekend at OKTAGON 48 despite expressing disappointment at his card placement.
The welterweight was born in France and represents his birth country. However, he has also lived and trained in the UK for many years, a country he also wants to represent.
Lohore faces Ion Surdu this weekend at OKTAGON 48 in Manchester – the promotion’s first event on British soil – but is disappointed with his placement on the card, where he is just the fourth fight of the night.
He said: “I’m not really happy with OKTAGON, for putting me so low on the card!
“I represent France because I was born in France. I also represent the UK because I live [here] and I’m a UK resident. I’ve done most of my MMA career in the UK, I’ve fought in all of the biggest organisations in the UK. My kids [and[ my wife were born in the UK and [are] UK citizens.
“I want people to accept me, also, as a UK fighter and I feel that OKTAGON didn’t respect me in that term. Especially for me to be so low in the card after all the experience that I’ve had.
“Regarding the show, I’m excited, it’s going to be a great show. OKTAGON is always doing a great show, I’m going to be putting on a great show – I’ve got something good for the fans to enjoy.
“I’m an entertainer, obviously I like to fight, fighting is my thing, but I also like to entertain my people, I like to be different, I like to be myself!”
Lohore Discusses Growth of French MMA
France officially recognised MMA as a legal sport in 2020. This came after a near 15-year battle between the French MMA commission and the French government.
Since then, big waves have been made in France when it comes to MMA. The UFC has hosted events in Paris twice, both of them delivering, while PFL recently visited Paris with their European league. The French fans have also developed a reputation as some of the best in the world.
Lohore discussed the growth of his sport in his home country in depth.
He said: “For me, I’ve always said it: ‘The day that France is going to legalise MMA, it’s just going to explode’.
“For people that have been watching me, I’ve had loads of my friends from France fly over and they’ve always been really loud in the crowd and it’s a thing that we do as French people! Everything that everyone sees in the UFC and how the French are in other organisations and stuff like that, we were doing this! They were doing this with me!
“I knew that when MMA would be legalised in France that it would just go off the roof. I’m just so, so happy that I’ve kept going in my journey and I’m so glad that I am still in the game and still part of MMA. I can’t wait to maybe finally go back and compete where I was born, where most of my family and most of my fans are based.”
Alex Lohore Full Exclusive Interview
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