San Diego, CA — Heavyweight prospect Slim Trabelsi finally arrives in the big leagues at Bellator 300 in San Diego, CA on Saturday.
Trabelsi (5-0) had inked a deal with the UFC in 2022 to compete in that organization, but a management dispute involving ARES FC owner Fernand Lopez, who also held a management deal with the fighter, saw that opportunity fall through.
Signing with Bellator MMA in 2023, Trabelsi finally makes his debut on arguably the biggest card in promotion history.
He now looks to be the first Tunisian fighter to win a major championship in MMA. “It gives me big motivation to be first Tunisian in Bellator organization, and I hope to be the first Tunisian champion. Not just Tunisian, first Arabic fighter [to be champ]. I am ready for this,” Trabelsi said during this week’s Bellator 300 media day.
Trabelsi is paired up with opponent Davion Franklin, and appears ready for the challenge. “I watched his fights, I know that he [had] many fights in Bellator. I know he’s a tough opponent, he’s explosive, strong punches. I prepared good, and I trained so much. I am ready for this fight.”
He also knows this is the biggest fight of his career. “Yes, this is the most important fight because this is a big organization, like Bellator, with a good name opponent,” noted Trabelsi. “Many important people in the world will watch this fight, so I think this will be big promotion [for] me and my name.”
The storyline around Trabelsi, undefeated record aside, is very much about his journey getting to the big leagues. When Dominance MMA signed Trabelsi and attempted to bring the Tunisian to the UFC last year, ARES FC’s Lopez, who also trains Ciryl Gane and other French fighters, immediately stepped in, at one point demanding payment to release the fighter from his deal.
Things got ugly quick, with accusations flowing from managers on both sides, leaving Trabelsi caught in the middle. When he signed with Bellator, Lopez vowed to intervene, but that apparently has not happened.
Asked about the situation by Cageside Press this week, Trabelsi acknowledged the difficult journey he had taken to this stage, and the forces that tried to prevent him from being here.
“Yes. This is hard to manipulate this. But in the Fight Week, it’s different. I must not focus on these things. These things— I make long way to come to here. When I remember what happened in my life, I feel a rage inside me. The hard times were very bad,” admitted Trabelsi. “Last one year, I didn’t fight. I was broke. Before this, I was fighting in hard conditions. I was living illegally in Europe for many years. I don’t have the right to travel. I was traveling by train, or car. I was crossing the borders under pressure from control papers. I have no money, no sponsor, no papers. And people who promote me in this time, they don’t stop, to block me. I stay going.”
Trabelsi gave his thanks to those who have supported him: his friends, his cousin, and other family. “Now, I must forget it before the fight,” he added. “After the fight, I will remember this, but now I must focus on my opponent.”
Watch the full Bellator 300 media day appearance by Slim Trabelsi above.
