Jessin Ayari

Jessin Ayari (born May 31, 1992) is a Tunisian-German professional mixed martial artist. He was the formal Superior Fighting Championship Welterweight Champion. and competed in welterweight division of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Background
Ayari started playing football when he was young, and played for TSV 1904 Feucht youth team as a defensive midfielder in Germany. He started training in MMA at the age of fifteen after becoming frustrated with his football teammates who did not pull their weight and give as much as him. Ayari soon transitioned to MMA and completed his first MMA fight two years later.

Since MMA gyms are hard to find in Germany, Ayari goes to different gyms to train in each specific combat sport discipline. A typical day for his training starts with strength and conditioning training at Power Athletics. In the evening, he either does boxing training at West End, BJJ training at Fight Gym, MMA sparring with Hammers Team or wrestling training at Johannis Grizzlys.

Early career
Ayari made his professional MMA debut on October 17, 2009, at Bavaria, Germany, and he was the former Superior Fighting Championship Welterweight Champion. He had a six fight win streak with a victory win over former UFC fighter Mickael Lebout at GMC 8 in Castrop-Rauxel on April 16, 2016, with professional MMA record of 15–3 prior being signed by UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ayari was expected to make his UFC debut against Emil Meek on September 3, 2016, at UFC Fight Night: Arlovski vs. Barnett in Hamburg, Germany. However, Meek was pulled from the fight due to a USADA conflict where receiving medical treatment of the fight against Rousimar Palhares prior to signing with the UFC and he was replaced by Jim Wallhead. Ayari won his first UFC fight via split decision.

He next faced Darren Till on May 28, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira. After three rounds of fighting, the judges handed down the win to Till via unanimous decision.

Ayari faced Stevie Ray in a lightweight bout on October 27, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 138 He lost the fight by controversial decision.

Returning from an extended hiatus, Ayari faced Luigi Vendramini on October 4, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 16. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.

It was announced that after his loss to Vendramini, he was released from the UFC.

Mixed martial arts

 * Superior Fighting Championship
 * Superior Fighting Championship Welterweight Champion (one time) vs. Kerim Engizek

Amateur Sambo Competition

 * Bavarian Combat Sambo Championship
 * Bavarian Combat Sambo Champion

Personal life
Ayari comes from a family of athletes; his cousin Khaled Ayari was a footballer for Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian First League, and another cousin Hassine Ayari and uncle Omrane Ayari represented Tunisia in Greco-Roman wrestling in the Olympics.

He worked as an automotive mechanic engineer prior to fighting professionally.