The Israeli Tank: An Interview with Eli Aronov

Eli Aronov has been a fighter his entire life, from judo to wrestling to MMA- to serving on the front line of the ongoing war in Israel for five months. 

This journey began for Eli at the age of six, when he began competing in judo before making a switch to GrecoRoman wrestling when he was 12, going on to compete in various tournaments around the world before having to complete his military service. Towards the end of his national service in the Golani 51 unit, he was injured and so decided to take up MMA during the recovery period. 

Eli’s brother, also a professional fighter, convinced him to come to his gym in Beer Sheva, Spirit MMA, which had a highly recommended coach. After going to this training session, he said that “the second I fell on the mat, I fell in love with it (MMA)”. After just four months of training as an MMA fighter, he had already made his debut in different competitions. Switching to a highly disciplined lifestyle, Eli said that he “lived like a samurai”, in preparation for each fight that he would be competing in. It was after a tournament in Edmonton, Canada, that he was told by his manager that the UFC knew who he was. His nickname, The Israeli Tank was given to him by a guest speaker who came to visit his gym in Beer Sheva, a name which has now carried to the UFC. 

In contrast to his previous experience in judo and wrestling, Eli said that he enjoyed MMA due to the technical skill involved in the fighting style, bored of drilling the same “endless” exercises in wrestling. Impressed by the degree of technicality in MMA, he also said that he enjoyed the feeling of adrenaline that came with each fight. “

“I love the adrenaline, I live for it”, Eli said. 

Unlike his close friend Nili Block, who he calls “superwoman”, Eli was not classified as a special athlete during his national service, choosing to decline the offer as a point of principle. Although he understands why people may not wish to serve in the army, he believes strongly in the principle of national service. 

As a result of not being classified as a special athlete during his time in the army, Eli was not able to train beyond his usual combat training in Golani. At the start of the current war in Israel, Eli was mobilised on reserve duty and spent five months in Gaza with his unit. Going back into army life, he found that his MMA experience helped him in some form, by retaining the same mentality for both. Before the war his focus had been on becoming a UFC champion, but once the war started “I just packed my stuff and went to the army”. 

Unconcerned about a potential backlash caused by his reserve duty, he said that prior to his reserve service “I almost forgot what it is to be in the military, what it is to be a soldier”, in having to get used to army life again. Although he said being back in the war was a difficult experience for him, Eli said by going on reserve duty, he had done the right thing and left behind a legacy for his children. 

“After you’re gone, what stays? Just the stories people tell about you”, Eli said.

When asked about his aspirations for the next year, Eli says that he wants to see himself progress up the ranks of the UFC, to represent Israel on the global stage.