Professional fighter Aaron Slimane has showcased his leg adorned with tattoos of iconic combat sports figures: Conor McGregor, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Jon Jones, and Tyson Fury. According to Slimane, his leg is the first place people’s eyes are drawn to when they see him.
The 26-year-old from Castleford, West Yorkshire, is preparing to compete at SENSHI 31 Gladiators in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. His leg serves as a living tribute to the legends of combat sports.
“Conor McGregor is there, Mystic Mac. Muhammad Ali is there with a honeycomb design, symbolizing ‘float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.’ Then there’s Tyson Fury, the Gypsy King. Mike Tyson is on that side. And a representation of both Tysons, with one in the middle,” Slimane explained. Jon “Bones” Jones, widely considered one of the greatest MMA fighters ever, completes the collection on the back of his leg. These five figures, each a fighter who forged their own path to greatness, are all inked on Slimane’s leg.
Slimane, who is ranked number two in the UK at 72.5 kg with eight professional fights under his belt, sees the company he keeps on his leg as both an inspiration and a tribute to his own aspirations.
Beyond the boxing and MMA icons, Slimane also bears a samurai tattoo, representing a “warrior mindset,” a theme that extends from his leg to his chest. A military helmet is also inked on him, a direct reminder of his five years of service in the Army, a career he left to fully dedicate himself to professional fighting. Additionally, he has a Sak Yant, a traditional sacred Thai tattoo acquired during his time in Thailand.
Slimane accepted the SENSHI 31 fight on short notice, adapting his diet and making weight with relative ease. He believes in earning achievements: “I think you need to work for things. You don’t want to get handed things. You want to look back and think, ‘I’ve done something hard, and I had to work for it.'” He admits that when injured and out of training camps, the toughest part is not the physical pain but the disruption to his routine. “When I’ve been injured, I just think, ‘I can’t wait to be back in camp.’ Where I’m dieting, not drinking, not seeing my friends, because you’re in that flow state.”
Tonight, that flow state faces its ultimate test. Slimane is set to face Atanas Bozhilov, known as “Mr. SENSHI.” Bozhilov is a two-time WAKO PRO World Champion and the most decorated fighter in the promotion’s history. Their bout is a KWU Full Contact super fight at -75 kg, one of three featured matches on a card that also includes a Lightweight Grand Prix with fighters from 14 nations, all taking place at the Ancient Theatre of Plovdiv.
“My opponent is very experienced. There is not much he won’t have seen, but I do think he’ll see that I am ready for the big stage,” Slimane stated. His strategy for the match is straightforward: to win.
