Israeli MMA fighter and special forces police officer Rafael Aronov completely disproves the common stereotype about representatives of this combat sport. He is intelligent, balanced, and calm – even when recounting how missiles fell near his home.
When and why did you decide to do MMA?
My father was born and raised in Russia and had to defend himself because anti-Semitism was a big problem there. Although my brothers and I were born in Israel, his experiences led him to involve us in martial arts from an early age. I started with judo when I was six and later continued with karate, boxing, and wrestling – a little bit of everything, After returning from three and a half years of service in the army, I found an ad on Facebook for an MMA gym in the city I was living in. I first got in touch with my coach – who, by the way, has been with me for over ten years now – who told me to give it a try and see how I felt. Honestly, I fell in love with MMA almost from the first training session. No matter what happened, injuries and other things, nothing could stop me from that moment on.
What exactly does MMA bring you?
Martial arts are much more than just a sport – they are a way of life. They teach you to be patient, listen to others, work hard, respect your opponent, and appreciate your training partners – you sacrifice for them, and they sacrifice for you. These values and this discipline are very important. Also, knowing that I can defend myself and my family makes me a much more relaxed and confident person.
You have partially answered my next question – what qualities are important for an MMA fighter?
Respect. After the match, you make sure that your opponent is okay, and you shake hands. That is also part of martial arts. And staying calm under pressure. As you may know, I am not only an MMA fighter, but also a special forces police officer, and this trait is crucial for both. One example among many was October 7, 2023 – a life-threatening situation. Even under fire, I still had my thoughts under control and was in my right mind, while others froze or didn’t know what to do. In every situation, I always use my head and try to figure out how to resolve the situation – how to fight smart. That’s something fighting in the cage as an athlete has taught me.
What is the hardest thing about MMA for you?
I would say sacrifice. As an athlete, you sacrifice a lot. It’s not always rewarding; you don’t always win. You have to pick yourself up after a loss, even after an injury – the scars are still visible on my face and body. You sacrifice your personal time, prioritizing training over family and friends. Preparing for a match takes two months. And let’s not forget the financial aspect. It’s not that glamorous until you reach the highest level.
Do you mean training, the fight itself, or the subsequent recovery?
The hardest part of this sport, which people don’t realize, is not the fight itself, which lasts at most 15 minutes, but the training. I train two or three times a day for four to six hours, over the course of two months. I also have to follow a strict diet to cut a lot of weight. There is a process called “weight cutting,” which means that I usually have to lose about ten kilograms in the seven days before a match. It’s a very important part of the game, and you have to be very disciplined and follow everything your nutritionist and coach tell you. If you have to drink nine liters of water a day, you drink nine liters. You can’t say, “It’s hard today, I’ll drink only 8.5.” No, because then you won’t achieve the necessary weight reduction. Training has to be done within the framework of your diet. I am very grateful to my wife, who helps me a lot. It’s not always easy, but when you succeed and win, it’s always that much sweeter because you know how hard you’ve worked and how much you’ve sacrificed.
Rafael Aronov also serves as a police officer in a special forces unit.
And how does this fit together with your job in terms of time?
Fortunately, as a special forces police officer, I have to be in excellent physical condition. I definitely owe a large part of my success to the fact that the police allow me to pursue my athletic career at the same time. Sometimes, however, it’s very difficult – for example, going from training straight to the night shift.
How popular is MMA in your country? You must be quite well known there, right?
I would say I’m fairly well-known in Israel, but I’ve always worked hard for that. As in many countries around the world, MMA is becoming more and more popular here. And I’m proud to represent Israel in this sport. MMA is really one of the toughest and also one of the most respectful sports. But there are still people who see it as barbaric – probably because of the blood and the injuries.
Some people even say MMA is not a sport. How would you respond?
An MMA athlete needs to be strong, fast, mentally sharp, and able to perform under pressure. I don’t mean disrespect to any other sports, but in many team sports you can blame your teammates if you lose. An MMA fighter has no one to blame – you must always be the fastest, the strongest, the smartest. We work very hard to represent this sport properly and show people in our country what it’s really about. MMA is a true sport, and MMA fighters are actually very calm and level-headed people because they know what they are capable of.
What about your injuries?
Most injuries happen during training. In Israel there is a saying: “Fight as you train, and train as you fight”. We train very hard and intensely. So I’ve had a broken nose, a broken jaw, cracked ribs, and many other injuries in training. There is a very fine line in deciding whether you can still fight despite an injury. That was the case in my last fight in England. As you know, Israel was under attack from Iran, and four weeks before the fight, I collapsed to my knees while rescuing injured people after a missile strike. Even though I couldn’t complete an important part of my training, I decided to continue. Two weeks before my fight, Iran attacked again less than 100 meters from my house. My home was full of shattered glass, broken doors, and damaged walls, so preparing for the match was really difficult. And on the day of my flight to London, Yemen fired a missile at Israel, which was intercepted, but still led to the cancellation of flights, so I didn’t know until the last minute whether I would be flying or not.
What is your goal in the MMA?
I am thirty-one years old and I still have four years ahead of me – fighters over thirty-five show a noticeable decline in performance. I would like to make the most of this time and, as a professional athlete, compete in the top leagues, such as the UFC (Ultimate Fight Championship) or PFL (Professional Fighters League). I hope to sign a new contract with a major organization by the end of this year and maybe take a break from the police so I can fully develop my potential in MMA. I am also preparing for the future – I have founded my own agency and represent not only myself but also other Israeli fighters, as it is the only agency of its kind in Israel.
CV BOX
Rafael Aronov (born August 22, 1994, in Israel) is a professional MMA fighter and special forces police officer.
He is the grandson of Holocaust survivors. A proud Jew, he has built his life around service and resilience.
His last two fights were held in England at events organized by Cage Warriors. He won both times – against British fighters Brad Wheeler and Danny Blundell. He beat Wheeler in the second round and Blundell in the first.
He lives in Be’er Sheva and is happily married to his wife, Lior.
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