For his return to MMA, Mansour Barnaoui needed only two minutes and fifty-one seconds in the second round to beat his opponent. After several years without fighting, the Tunisian offers a return of choice.
Three and a half years! That's how long Mansour Barnaoui has been out of the octagon. For his return, the Tunisian faced and beat the American Adam Piccolotti. It was in Milan during the Bellator 287. A great return. A comeback that he had prepared ... until the course of the fight.
"The fans will be very surprised because I will win by KO or by submission every time," said Barnaoui. "They will be very surprised....I don't care (where I stand now), I just want to be a champion. I want to win at Bellator 287 and I want to win the lightweight grand prize, I'm here for that, the championship and the tournament," Mansour Barnaoui explained to the press before the poster. And as promised, the Tunisian beat Piccolotti, by submission. After a first round mastered, the "Afro-Samurai" then unfolded in the second round. A back hold and a rear choke were enough to overcome his opponent. A deliverance after such a long desert crossing.
7️⃣ years 𝘂𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻!
A dream start to life in Bellator MMA for @MansourBarnaoui, submitting Adam Piccolotti with a rear-naked choke.#Bellator287 pic.twitter.com/3aBGDiyhYC
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) October 29, 2022
An invincibility that lasts
"I felt good, comfortable, with the preparation of my coach and with all my brothers who came to see me," said Mansour Barnaoui. This fight, even if it comes almost four years after the last, extends the series of invincibility of the fighter of 30 years. It remains indeed on a seven years without biting the dust. In total, he has 20 wins and 4 losses in his career.
However, there is no question of stopping in such a good way. Mansour Barnaoui already aims further. The lightweight wants to "fight the next title challenger". "I came to Bellator to make the tournament and win the belt. His next opponent is therefore warned. Except that this time, the "Afro-Samurai" will not want to relive the ordeal of three and a half years without fighting.
