Mixed Martial Arts has transitioned from being prohibited to becoming an integral part of one of fashion’s most prestigious events. The historic Elysée Montmartre in Paris witnessed an unprecedented collaboration between fashion brand Coucou Bebe and artist Pyotr Pavlensky, titled “TESTOSTERONE,” during the Menswear Fall/Winter 2025 collection showcase.
The innovative presentation featured eight elite athletes, including PFL veteran Anthony Dizy, world grappling champion Alexis Fontes, Muay Thai world champion Mike Wasserman, and national MMA champion Samba Sima, who participated in four separate bouts. Each exhibition consisted of three one-minute rounds, orchestrated by A/POLITICAL in partnership with local promoter Hexagone MMA.
In a groundbreaking fusion of fashion and sport, the traditional runway was transformed into a walkway for the athletes. The show’s concept, as explained in the official release, “drew its name from the hormone that symbolizes power, aggression, and vitality, weaving these themes into an exploration of masculinity for the Menswear Fall/Winter 2025 collection.”
The artistic collaboration highlighted the shared vision between Coucou Bebe and Pyotr Pavlensky. “Coucou Bebe and Pyotr Pavlensky share a hallucinatory quality in their work whereby people do not believe what they are seeing is real,” the release stated.
This revolutionary presentation not only marks a significant milestone in French sporting history but also demonstrates the fashion industry’s ability to embrace and reimagine traditional sporting elements in contemporary artistic expression. The event stands as a testament to MMA’s growing acceptance in French culture, having transformed from an outlawed sport to a celebrated art form on one of fashion’s most prestigious platforms.
