Alan Baudot

Alan Dimitri Baudot (born 1 February 1988) is a French mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division. He has previously fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Alan Baudot was born on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse in Lyon, in a modest environment, with his parents originally from Martinique, from the commune of Schœlcher. At the age of 12, his mother and stepfather decided to leave the city and move to the countryside, near Besançon, in Franche-Comté. Growing up amongst cows and farms, Baudot had a pleasant childhood, with Besançon being where he started judo, his first sensations in combat sports. At the same time, he played rugby in Fédérale 2 (4e division) and tried his hand at fist-fighting. In love with martial arts, he turned to contact sports such as kick-boxing and muay-thai at the age of 19. As for his studies, Alan obtained a BEP (vocational diploma) and then a professional diploma in cooking and a CAP (vocational training certificate) in masonry. He accumulated jobs and never stopped working, for example, as assistant manager of a hotel, delivery driver or receptionist. Learning was also a constant for Baudot, as he holds a professional diploma from the Ministry of Youth, Popular Education and Sport (BPJEPS). Alan is also a coach specialized in pugilistic activities (boxing). Passionate about Japanese culture, he took the lead and decided to go to Japan at the age of 22, with his friend Mathieu Muller. With his friend, they wanted to open a delicatessen in Tokyo to sell products from Franche-Comté. Arriving there with dreams, they had nothing set aside, had no training in international trade. Once there, the two friends were disappointed. Launching a business in Japan as an expatriate was a real obstacle course and the project of the two friends dreamers collapsed. It was there in 2013 that Baudot decided to let off steam by entering Hayato Sakurai's gym. Three months passed between his first steps in MMA and his first fight, however Baudot had to return to France because his visa had expired. Two weeks later, Hayato Sakurai paid for Baudot's plane ticket to come back to Japan for the bout, which he won and earned 600 euros. Since MMA does not allow him to live, the Frenchman works as a bouncer in the bustling Roppongi district of Tokyo while also doing some kick-boxing and muay-thai fights, leading him to nicknamed "The Black Samurai".