Singapore ‘MMA hunk’ Juan Wen Jie happy to bide his time in ONE FC
He has kicked his heels for nearly two years for his big mixed martial arts (MMA) debut.
So when Juan Wen Jie’s name finally echoes through the Indoor Stadium at the One Fighting Championship (ONE FC) event on Friday, it will be all the sweeter for the wait.
In March 2012, Juan was only the second Singaporean to be signed by ONE FC, after Evolve Academy’s Radeem Rahman. The 30-year-old was slated to fight on home soil before a serious training injury forced him out of action.
Filled with regret and despair, he watched anxiously from the sidelines as ONE FC rapidly grew into prominence since the aborted fight. Juan’s contract with the Asian MMA giant further closed off ripe opportunities for Singaporean fighters -- such as auditioning for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)’s reality TV series, The Ultimate Fighter China.
But the sanshou and muay Thai specialist insisted to Yahoo Singapore that he wouldn’t have traded his place for anywhere else in the world.
“I’m just going to focus on ONE FC, which is just as big an organisation as UFC,” said Juan. “Besides, I haven’t even left my mark on Asia yet.”
Choosing life
Passionate about fighting for as long as he can recall, Juan first encountered MMA back in 1996 via a VCD of the first-ever UFC event, picked up at a pasar malam.
Unfortunately, during the boy’s time in school, there was no access to martial arts other than the likes of wushu, which was “not realistic”, and taekwondo, which he described as “more sport than combat”.
It was only when he entered National Service seven years ago that MMA gyms began sprouting up around the island – and an enthusiastic Juan took to the rings and mats with glee.
He had found his calling and the choice was easy after graduating from the Singapore Institute of Management with a business degree.
“I was thinking, what am I supposed to do with my life? Be desk-bound?” laughed the full-time trainer at Impact MMA gym.
Keeping it cool
During the interview, Juan’s hair was impeccably coiffed and his eyebrows groomed – the result of a casting call for male models earlier in the day.
The part-time gig puts his picturesque 1.85m, 72kg frame to good use – he even won “Manhunt Singapore” in 2011 – but rest assured that MMA is more important to Juan.
All attention is on his upcoming ONE FC bout with Malaysian Alex Lim, and the dominating statistic of Singaporeans losing every single battle with fighters sent from across the Causeway.
Juan, whose professional record reads two wins and no losses, is unfazed.
“The rivalry does weigh a little on me, but I just want to keep my friends and family happy, not the whole of Singapore,” he said. “I want to finish this, come back unharmed, and have my first burger in months!”
Do not think the affable demeanour is all there is to Juan – a fiercely competitive streak lies somewhere within this athlete fueled by “the joy of winning and getting (his) hand raised after all the hard work”.
“There’re guys in MMA out for fame and fortune,” he added. “Of course I want some of that, but right now I’m just happy. I’m slogging and having fun at the same time and I love it.”
Easy going
At 30, Juan’s MMA trajectory is kicking off later than most, but he’s not bothered by age nor post-fight career options. “I don’t think that far, I live for the moment,” he said.
Such carefree positivity feels like a rare thing in Singapore’s society.
“Not working that long hours” and “being fed” suffice as reasons for being content with his profession, even if his parents, whom he still stays with, don’t completely approve.
“My dad doesn’t want me to be in the fight line, he wants me to get a proper job,” admitted Juan.
Lucky for him, he has yet to be chased out of their five-room HDB in Tiong Bahru.
That’s not to say that Juan shies away from earning his keep. In discussion over employment, he admitted that “any (MMA) organisation which pays a good amount, I’ll be there”, before quickly reiterating his happiness with ONE FC.
“ONE FC has good management and everything is there, including the quality of fighters,” said Juan, cheerily. “Give it a few years, and the best of ONE FC can fight with the best of UFC.”
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