Xavier Alaoui UAE Warriors Arabia bantamweight champ after sensational KO - in pictures

Xavier Alaoui was crowned UAE Warriors Arabia's first-ever bantamweight champion after a sensational knock-out of Fabricio Sarraff in the promotion’s eighth edition in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Moments after being sent to the canvas by a power-packed right hook from Sarraf that opened up a deep cut above Alaoui's left eye, the Canada-based Moroccan was quickly up on his feet to take the fight back to his Lebanese opponent.

Alaoui landed a crunching right hook of his own to send Sarraff to the canvas and reined down some heavy shots on his stricken opponent before the referee stopped the contest.

“It’s never over in this fighting game until it’s over,” Alaoui said on his remarkable turnaround.

“I’m from Morocco and when is the king going to invite me to the country of my birth. Show me what you got in your country. I have never been to Morocco since I was three years old and I want to go and see my family.

“My life is hard out there in Canada. The UAE Warriors is awesome to give me this opportunity to make everything better in my life. This is a very professional organisation. Look at my face.

“I’m doing this because I love it. I have lot of people to thank including my young family for always standing behind me.”

Alaoui, 30, won the vacant UAE Warriors International bantamweight title in November 2020 but lost in his first defence against Brazilian Vinicius de Oliveira in March 2021.

“I never complain but the way I got here through the flights was chaotic and this bit of drama in my last flight,” he added after extending his record in mixed martial arts to 14-4.

“This is me. When I’m here, I’m here. I bring everything to the cage. I Iove this place. I love the UAE Warriors. Now this is my belt.”

Eslam Syaha of Egypt beat Laid