From amateur to the UFC: Delphine Benouaich and Nicolas Ott tell their story
Delphine Benouaich and Nicolas Ott look back together on their journey from the amateur circuit to UFC Paris.
- Show : Aldric & Herbi of Jab Life, aired on September 18, 2026, 1:02:52.
- People discussed : Delphine Benouaich, Nicolas Ott, Axel Sola, Nassourdine Imavov, Benoît Saint-Denis, William Gomis, Movsar Evloev, Manon Fiorot, Daniel Cormier, Salahdine Parnasse, Rodrigo Alamos.
- Topics : coach-athlete relationship, UFC Paris, amateur career path, women's performance, weight management.
- Source : transcript of the show, 36 882 views on YouTube.
What is said in the show
A few days after Delphine Benouaich's victory over Sofia Montenegro at UFC Paris, the fighter and her coach Nicolas Ott revisit the event: the crowd's reception, the performance bonus question, and the international reach of the fight. They then recount their first meeting at a French national team gathering, the amateur European and World Championships, the world final they lost, and the long anti-doping wait that followed. They describe the gradual building of Delphine's career, from training stints abroad at AJT and in Austin to the TUF, which Nico was unable to watch live. Axel Sola makes a surprise appearance and discusses his weight management issues at 70 kg and his training goals. Nico and Delphine share what they appreciate about each other. The show wraps up with club news: the opening of a new gym in Vissous, updates on Nassourdine Imavov and Benoit Saint-Denis, and Delphine's place as the only woman in the group.
Chapters
- 0:00Intro
- 0:50How they experienced UFC Paris
- 11:15First meeting and first steps together
- 24:20Their best pre-UFC memory
- 28:45The impossibility of being together at the TUF
- 37:45Surprise moment: Axel Sola joins them
- 45:30What they appreciate about each other
- 51:35When is the next cage return?
- 53:45Ott presents his new gym
- 58:25Coach Ott gives news about BSD and Imavov
- 1:00:15The only woman in the gym -- how do you handle it?
Key moments
« I didn't choose efficiency, I chose the spectacle. That's Delphine's problem when you have 15,000 people in the corner instead of three. »
Delphine Benouaich · at 2:57
« She says: there are holes in her boxing, I'm going to outbox her. And I think: this girl just watched a woman dismantle another woman in boxing and she says there are holes in her boxing. »
Nicolas Ott · at 14:56
« Nico has consistency between what he says and what he does. His ability not to scatter himself, to set his priorities and stick to their order, even when immediate pleasure is tempting. »
Delphine Benouaich · at 47:19
« These are my last attempts at 70. I'll fight one to three more times. If we can't find a balance that's truly conducive to progress, I'll have to move up. »
Axel Sola · at 39:04
« She's in the UFC, so you really feel an immense pride. She's the only girl but she puts on absolutely insane fights. »
Nicolas Ott · at 1:01:10
