Great news reached the Finnish fighting circles in March, when the UFC published the list of participants in the reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter. Starting from Helsinki’s Roihuvuori Omran Chaaban the name stood out in the intermediate series category.
“TUF” has reaped success since 2005. The program has been around for almost 20 years, but only the 32nd production season contains a Finnish color.
In the series, 16 fighters from two different weight classes are placed to live in the same house, and in both weight classes there is a tournament of eight fighters, the prize of which is a UFC contract.
– When the news came out that I was going to be in the Ultimate Fighter, I was already there. I didn’t have a phone for a month, Chaaban says at his home in the Roihuvuori sports park.
There is no contact with the outside world in Ottelijatalo. The focus is only on the description of the program and on the fact that in a pressurized situation you have to be at your best, when the competitors seeking a UFC contract live in the same environment and climb into the cage, man against man.
In the UFC’s shoes
At the time of the interview, Wednesday, April 24, a week has passed since the filming of the program.
Chaaban is wearing brand new UFC shoes. The man is in good spirits, and although behind him is a merciless, weeks-long physical and mental crunch with cameras filming around the clock, he is above all healthy. In a freestyle match, it literally hurts and happens.
Perhaps the UFC’s slippers, happy mind and healthy body hint at the fact that opponents have been hurt more than Chaaban on the set of Ultimate Fighter. Who knows? Chaaban himself, of course, but he is not allowed to say anything.
– It has probably been the most challenging thing. When I come here (Finland), I would like to tell everyone what happened. And the gang asks all the time. Relatives ask, friends ask. When walking down the street, the gang comes to ask how it went. A message will appear on Instagram that says hey, tell me.
If Chaaban is successful in the show, he will make it to the Ultimate Fighter finals, which will not be until later. The premiere of the new production season is on the fourth of June. So you have to keep your mouth shut for months.
Free play NHL
Nicknamed “The Lebanese Gorilla”, the Roihuvuori native is playing in Finland, but he usually trains in Ireland. Chaaban specifically “trains, trains and trains”. The same word is repeated in the speech of a goal-oriented competitor.
It has to be repeated, because the goals are not exactly the most moderate.
– The UFC contract always comes first, but I’m not worried about it. I’m 23 and young in a good way, I know myself for skills. The goal has always been that I want the championship. It’s not enough that I take a couple of matches. I know I can do it. I want the UFC belt.
The height of the bar is reflected by the fact that Finland currently does not have any fighters in the UFC, which Chaabankin compares to the “NHL of free fighting”.
From Roihuvuori, the journey continues to Järvenpää to Sisu Gym, where Chaaban goes to train every time he visits Finland. Coach Sami Mehamedi has a private workout with Chaaban.
Before the performance, Mehamedi casts a prediction when Chaaban is not present.
– I claim that Finland will have two UFC fighters by the end of this year.
Mehamedi says that he assessed this earlier in the podcast. His guess is that Chaaban and the 27-year-old Abdul Hussein are Finland’s next UFC hopes.
Chaaban has won six out of seven matches in his professional career. Hussein’s list has nine wins and two losses.
With such records, it’s good enough to be in contact with the UFC, especially when the victories have come in high-class organizations.
Chaaban is represented by a well-known agent in freestyle and sports circles Malki Kawa. The cooperation has lasted more than a year and a half. Chaaban is satisfied, because this season he has a direct connection with the UFC.
Interested in Ultimate Fighter?
Chaaban’s previous match was against the United Arab Emirates in January. The Helsinki native won in the UAE Warriors title match, which took place on three weeks’ notice Wisem Hammam.
The match is connected with an interesting story from the point of view of the present. Chaaban says that the UFC called three days before the match. A representative of the US promotion inquired about Chaaban’s interest in Ultimate Fighter.
– I answered yes, but look at my title match, I’m now in Abu Dhabi and I have a main match.
The UFC fans watched Chaaban’s five-round match, which ended in the last round with a handsome stoppage victory. The next morning, the UFC called again.
Now, three months later, Chaaban can finally be taken “easily”. After the January match, a long rotation began, but the fighter says that he felt at home in the UFC circles.
− Of course I was excited when I saw (UFC chairman) by Dana White, I was at the UFC’s Apex (sports center) and it has been a goal to be there. When I was there, it still felt really normal, Chaaban describes.
Sauna, porridge and silence
The filming of Ultimate Fighter is now over and Chaaban says that he himself plans to watch the upcoming production season.
He was satisfied with the coaching he received and says that the experience made good friends with whom he can keep in touch in the future.
There were many different nationalities in the house, so the biggest surprise for Chaaban was how different the people were in their behavior and way of thinking.
However, Finland is Finland, a special place for Chaaban. He loves sauna, porridge and silence. Finns’ reactions to participating in the program have been encouraging and support has come.
– I was surprised in a good way that so many people showed interest and that it has been a big deal in Finland as well. Let’s say that Finland needs to bring the same (attitude), that this is already a big thing, but there is still a long way to go. Let’s bring that belt over here, it’s even better.
This is what a man who trained in Järvenpää in UFC gloves spoke.