There is understandable scepticism surrounding WWE superstars crossing over into combat sports.The memory of CM Punk’s ill-fated foray into the UFC still casts a long shadow.Selmani (second from the right) enjoyed two stints with the WWEGettyBut make no mistake about it: BKFC heavyweight contender Gzim Selmani doesn’t belong in the same category.Known to millions of WWE fans as Rezar, one half of former tag team champions The Authors of Pain, Selmani built his reputation as a force to be reckoned with long before he entered the larger-than-life world of professional wrestling.“Fighting is in my DNA,” Selmani told talkSPORT.com. “I started judo when I was four years old. “I became a regional champion, and I was a top Dutch Olympic prospect at a very young age.“But I prefer to punch people in the face. I was doing a lot of kickboxing locally here, and I became a champion in 2013 when I won a professional Grand Prix in Germany.“Then, I started MMA, which was still a very new sport in Holland at the time. “It was the small gloves that drew my attention. It just feels much better to hit someone with small gloves, and it’s even better without.”MMA prospect to WWE superstar Selmani transitioned to mixed martial arts under the watchful eye of Martijn de Jong at the legendary Golden Glory Fight Team. Brushing shoulders with the likes of Alistair Overeem and Semmy Schilt, Selmani developed into a precocious prospect, beating men twice his age as a teenager.The crowning moment of his 4-2 professional MMA career came in 2014 when he submitted UFC veteran and former strongman Oli Thompson inside 18 seconds on a BAMMA card in London.His destructive display caught the eye of the UFC, although in the end, he opted to join the WWE after being scouted during a training camp in Dubai.“At the time, we had multiple offers from Bellator, and we had some talks with the UFC as well, but the matchmaker thought I was still too young, as I was only 18,” Selmani added.“I think nowadays it would have been fine, but back then they wanted me to gain some more experience.“The Oli Thompson fight definitely put me on the map.“I was also scouted by the WWE after that fight. They were very keen on me going over to the United States to train in a performance centre.“William Regal really wanted me there, and they convinced me.”Selmani won the NXT and Raw tag team titles as one half of the Authors of PainGettyBack to unchoreographed fighting with BKFCSelmani enjoyed two fruitful stints with the WWE between 2015 and 2025, winning the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship, NXT Tag Team Championship and the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with stablemate Akam.His tenure with the company came to an end after a backstage altercation involving an unnamed member of the Wyatt Sicks.Luckily for Selmani, he landed on his feet, with the aptly nicknamed ‘Albanian Psycho’ receiving a bumper deal from Conor McGregor-owned bare-knuckle boxing powerhouse, BKFC.“Conor McGregor was instrumental in bringing me to BKFC. He sold me and my manager Shane [Watson] the idea,” recalled Selmani.“He invited me to a show in Manchester, and I really liked it. It’s very violent.“The sound that it makes when the fist hits someone’s skull. The adrenaline, even from just watching it, rushes through your body. You cannot compare it to anything else.”View Tweet: https://x.com/hashtag/BKFCNEWCASTLE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwSelmani made his BKFC debut in March, knocking out Dan Curtin in the second round.Now, he is set to return to the squared circle on October 17 against Brad Lee in Newark, New Jersey.“When I close my eyes and think about this fight, I see a lot of blood,” 270lbs behemoth Selmani said of the task ahead.“Maybe even some breaks in his face, and a big knockout.“Once he feels the first punch, he isn’t going to want to fight me.”Watch Boxing on DAZN*If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenueSign up to DAZN to access the definitive subscription for boxing fans.Upgrade to DAZN Ultimate from just £24.99/month, guaranteeing access to 185+ fights annually, a minimum of 12 pay-per-views at no extra cost, as well as every Lega Serie A match and other elite football access.Alternatively, DAZN Standard is just £15.99/month, with the caveat you will have to pay for pay-per-view events.Click here to sign up.