Tyjani Beztati was halfway through his eighteenth year when he signed for GLORY, making him at that time the youngest fighter ever to sign with the world’s leading stand-up fighting organization. 

The signing didn’t surprise anyone who had followed his rise through the Netherlands amateur circuit and into the professional ranks. Having started training at the age of 10, Beztati began competing while barely a teenager and steadily rose through the ranks.

His high skill level was clear from a young age, but what really caught the attention of seasoned was his singular focus and dedication to training. Almost from day one, Beztati showed a seasoned professionalism which looked set to take him all the way to the top. 

Six national amateur championships and one European amateur championship confirmed that. His combined amateur record topped out at 50-1-1 and set the stage for his graduation into the professional circuit.

Born and raised in East Amsterdam, Beztati is a reflection of the city’s history as a major global metropolis and cultural melting pot. Moroccan on his father’s side, Surinamese on his mother’s side, Beztati is first and foremost an Amsterdammer.

The east side of the city has some mean streets though. Beztati cites his neighborhood as being a key factor in imbuing him with the drive and focus to succeed in his formative years. 

“I saw a lot of people around me slip and fall,” he says. “I saw guys mess up and drop out, going down the wrong road, ending up in jail. But I had my plan and I stuck to it,” he says. 

“To talk to me, you wouldn’t think I am a professional fighter. But I have a competitive spirit, a sort of killer instinct, which comes out in the ring. My mentality is to never quit, never give up. When I start something, I always finish it.”

Beztati initially trained with Dutch kickboxing pioneer Thom Harinck at the Chakuriki Gym in Amsterdam, as well as with Ali Amrani, brother of GLORY veteran Mosab Amrani. He remains close to both coaches to this day.

In recent years he’s fought out of The Colosseum Gym, where his teammates include former GLORY middleweight champion Jason Wilnis