A disturbing domestic abuse video involving former Road FC lightweight champion Mansour Barnaoui has surfaced in France. His ex girlfriend appears to be pursuing legal action and has gone public.
In one video she appears to be lying injured on the ground, naked from the waist down while Barnaoui steps over her. In the other they can be heard arguing loudly in French.
According to French MMA media outlet Arena the fighter is accused of domestic abuse and rape:
Mansour Barnaoui est accusé de vi*lences conjugales / vi*l sur sa conjointe.
Des faits très graves, avec des vidéos à l'appui ⚠️
via @AQABABE_ pic.twitter.com/r7QUbyObL7
— ARENA (@MMArena_) October 27, 2023
Bad light
Barnaoui beat A Sol Kwon in 2019 to become the Road FC lightweight champion. He then took a three year break from competing before signing with Bellator.
The French fighter won the Road FC lightweight Grand Prix in 2019, stopping Shamil Zavurov with a flying knee. As the winner of this tournament he received $1 million USD.
Barnaoui addressed the accusations on X, formerly known as Twitter. The comments were translated by MMA Sucka as,
“I am aware that the videos posted put me under a bad light, but they do not reflect the truth, which, I hope will soon be established.”
— Mansour Barnaoui (@Mansourbarnaoui) October 28, 2023
Court case
In the message Barnaoui mentions that he expects to go to court. The case does not appear to have been covered by the mainstream media in France and it is not clear whether the 31 year old has been arrested, although he does seem to suggest that criminal proceedings are underway.
The victim has waived her right to anonymity and appeared on a popular podcast in France where she discussed the case in detail. Barnaoui’s lawyer has also issued a public statement which was translated by MMA Sucka as reading,
“My client is the victim of extortion, blackmail, threats, aggravated violence, and bullying.”
Barnaoui last fought for Bellator in September. He has competed three times for the American promotion, winning one of those bouts although being involved in a legal case could make international travel complicated.
Both Barnaoui and his lawyer state that the French fighter is in possession of a lot of evidence that they presumably believe will prove his innocence. Further facts will surely come out in court but the videos being shared on social media definitely do put the 31 year old under ‘a bad light’.
